CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church of England: Rivers

Gareth Thomas: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners whether the Church Commissioners own navigation rights over any navigable rivers; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Bell: As far as I am aware, the Church Commissioners do not own any special navigation rights. By way of a statement, where they own a river or part thereof, they own the usual rights of access or, where applicable, fishing or mooring rights. However these rights do not override the general right of the public to navigate.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been killed by drones operated by UK forces in Afghanistan in each of the last five years.

Liam Fox: The Ministry of Defence does not record figures for insurgent or civilian casualties in Afghanistan because of the immense difficulty and risks that would be involved in collecting robust data.
	Every effort is made to avoid civilian casualties and we do investigate all claims of civilian fatalities bought to our attention. Any that are the result of action by UK armed forces are always a matter of profound regret.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what districts in Helmand Province the UK will have lead responsibility for security after General Mills assumes command of Regional Command (South West).

Liam Fox: holding answer 14 June 2010
	Alongside our Afghan partners in Combined Forces Helmand, the UK has lead responsibility for security in Lashkar Gah, Nahr-E Saraj and parts of Nad-E Ali district. UK troops reporting to the US Marine Corps Regimental Combat Team 2 working alongside their Afghan partners in Combined Force Sangin also have responsibility for the majority of Kajaki and Sangin districts.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from what budgets funding will be drawn to double the operational allowance for armed forces personnel serving in Afghanistan.

Liam Fox: holding answer 17 June 2010
	The operational allowance is drawn in part from the Government Reserve, and in part from the core Defence budget. This reflects the priority this Government places on repairing the Military Covenant and properly supporting our armed forces in Afghanistan. It also acknowledges that although the MOD budget has been protected in 2010-11, it is vital that all Departments prioritise resources to the front line and assist in the key task of reducing the debt inherited by the new Government.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fatalities of Welsh service personnel there have been in Afghanistan since the commencement of military operations in that country.

Liam Fox: Data on the place of birth of all military personnel are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many injuries there have been to Welsh members of the armed forces in Afghanistan since the commencement of military operations in that country; and how many of those members of the armed forces who were injured were transferred to the UK for treatment.

Liam Fox: Data on the place of birth of all military personnel are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the UK's contribution will be to the forthcoming surge in the Kandahar area of Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Fox: holding answer 17 June 2010
	The combined ISAF and Afghan mission in Kandahar province aims to increase the presence of the Afghan Government and increase security in targeted areas to allow the Government to provide essential services for the local population.
	The number of Afghan and ISAF forces has increased to provide deeper security and governance in Kandahar City and wider districts. This will be followed by further expansion of ISAF troops later this summer. Our contribution as part ISAF in that area continues to include the core headquarters staff of Regional Command (South) for which the command will pass, as planned, to the US later this year.
	As the Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on 14 June, this Government will provide regular updates to the House on the progress we are making in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  with reference to the Prime Minister's announcement of 10 June 2010, what estimate he has made of the number of additional counter-improvised explosive devices teams the additional £67 million will fund;
	(2)  with reference to the Prime Minister's announcement of 10 June 2010, how the additional £67 million to be provided to counter-improvised explosive devices (IEDs) will be allocated between expenditure on  (a) armoured vehicles and  (b) counter-IED teams.

Liam Fox: The allocation of up to an additional £67 million from the reserve to support the campaign to counter the improvised explosive device (IED) threat in Afghanistan, announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June, will make a considerable contribution to operational capability. For reasons of operational security, I am not able to comment on the number of counter-IED (C-IED) teams in theatre. However, the additional funding announced by the Prime Minister will allow us to equip a significant increase in that number. The additional funds include approximately £40 million for more protected vehicles for use by our C-IED teams; the remainder will be used to enhance other critical capabilities, including more remote control vehicles, and enhancements to our military working dog capability.

Aircraft Carriers

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any Minister in his Department examined the break clauses on the aircraft carrier contract  (a) on their first day in office and  (b) subsequently.

Peter Luff: The Secretary of State announced on his first day in office that the Ministry of Defence would conduct a Strategic Defence and Security Review to review all aspects of defence capability. As part of that ongoing work all equipment programmes are subject to review and re-approval scrutiny.
	Once this review is complete, Ministers will be examining in detail the mechanisms for implementing the review's outcomes.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department  (a) has allocated in the last five years and  (b) intends to allocate in the next five years to the King's Centre for Defence Medicine; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 15 June 2010
	The question on the funding of King's Centre for Defence Medicine is presumed to be referring to the work of King's Centre for Military Health Research with whom, in 2003, the MOD commissioned research into the health of military personnel deployed to Iraq. In 2006, the study was extended for a further three years and broadened to include all subsequent Iraq deployments as well as deployments to Afghanistan. This research programme now follows a cohort of over 20,000 serving and former members of the armed forces. Earlier this year the study was extended for a further three years to maintain the database and further explore the data obtained in phases one and two.
	MOD funding to the King's Centre for Military Health Research to conduct the Health and Wellbeing Survey since 2003 and going forward is as follows (exclusive of VAT):
	
		
			  Contract period  Funding (£ million) 
			 May 2003 to May 2006 2.585 
			 September 2006 to January 2010 2.310 
			 February 2010 to January 2013 1.260 
		
	
	Phases one and two have shown that the health and wellbeing of the UK armed forces is in general good and that there was no overall significant increase in mental ill-health as a result of operational deployment, although effects were seen in both reservists and those in combat roles.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether ex-servicemen's  (a) war and  (b) occupational pensions are suspended during any period of imprisonment in the UK;
	(2)  which organisations or Government departments are responsible for maintaining records of the suspension of ex-servicemen's  (a) war and  (b) occupational pensions;
	(3)  how many  (a) war and  (b) occupational pensions of ex-servicemen were suspended at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Liam Fox: Under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) pensions are not normally stopped on imprisonment. A pension could be withheld at the point of leaving the armed forces if the individual was going direct to jail for at least 10 years for acts such as treason or breach of the Official Secrets Acts. Post service, it is possible, at the discretion of the Secretary of State, that a pension could be forfeited in very particular circumstances, however the position of dependants would also be considered.
	Under the War Pension Scheme (WPS) pensions are normally withheld if the term of imprisonment is more than 12 months or detention in psychiatric facilities as a result of a criminal conviction. The pension is restored upon release and twelve months of basic pension arrears paid. Where hardship can be shown up to half pension can be paid to dependants. Guaranteed income payments made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) are not stopped during a term of imprisonment.
	The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency is responsible for administration of the AFPS, the WPS and the AFCS and details of suspension are held against the individual's records. No AFPS pensions are known to be in suspension. The total number of WPS pensions in suspension is not held in a reportable format and the number could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Private Education

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 248-49W, on departmental private education, how many service personnel of each rank qualified for assistance under the continuity of education allowance in each year; and how much was spent on each educational establishment which provides places funded under the scheme in each year.

Andrew Robathan: The number of service personnel in each rank who received continuity of education allowance during financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 was as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year 2007-08 
			  Army rank or equivalent  Number 
			 Lt/2(nd) Lt 10 
			 Capt 620 
			 Maj 1,070 
			 Lt Col 1,140 
			 Col 470 
			 Brig 180 
			 Maj Gen 40 
			 Lt Gen 10 
			 Gen (1)- 
			 Pte (Class 1-3) 40 
			 L/Cpl 40 
			 Cpl 360 
			 Sgt 660 
			 S/Sgt 720 
			 WO2 360 
			 WO1 290 
			 Total 6,010 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year 2008-09 
			  Army rank or equivalent  Number 
			 Lt/2(nd) Lt 10 
			 Capt 610 
			 Maj 1,040 
			 Lt Col 1,150 
			 Col 480 
			 Brig 160 
			 Maj Gen 40 
			 Lt Gen 10 
			 Gen (1)- 
			 Pte (Class 1-3) 40 
			 L/Cpl 40 
			 Cpl 370 
			 Sgt 640 
			 S/Sgt 710 
			 WO2 400 
			 WO1 280 
			 Total 5,990 
			 (1 )Fewer than 5.   Notes:  1. Where personnel have been promoted during a financial year, only their most senior rank has been counted.  2. Rounding has been applied to all figures. Totals have been rounded separately and therefore may not equal the sum of their rounded parts. 
		
	
	Accurate details of the educational establishments for which the continuity of educational allowance has been paid to service personnel in each financial year are not held.

Armed Forces: Wales

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the percentile ratio is of those serving in the armed forces in  (a) Wales and  (b) other constituent parts of the UK.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  1 April 2010-percentage of armed forces personnel by area of posting 
			   Percentage 
			 Wales 1.5 
			 England 76.7 
			 Scotland 6.3 
			 Northern Ireland 2.2 
		
	
	The table does not include those individuals on permanent non-operational postings outside the UK. Personnel on operational deployments will be shown against their most recent station location.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured vehicles he has ordered since May 2010.

Peter Luff: The total number of armoured vehicles ordered since May 2010 is 28. The contract for the Wolfhound Tactical Support Vehicles was amended in early June 2010 to include an additional 28 vehicles.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timetable is for the selection of a prototype for the light protected patrol vehicles.

Peter Luff: Bids in response to the Invitation to Tender for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle were returned on 15 June 2010. These responses are currently being assessed by the Department, with the intention to place a contract for the first batch of vehicles in late summer.

Astute Class Submarines

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to review the contracts for  (a) the fifth and  (b) the sixth Astute-class submarine as part of the Government's review of contracts placed since January 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The Government reassessed spending approvals granted between 1 January 2010 and the general election. This included consideration of the decision to commit to the Initial Build of Astute Boat 5 and Long Lead Procurement Activities associated with Astute Boat 6, contracts worth some £332 million. The review concluded that these contracts should proceed. It should be noted, however, that in the context of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Secretary of State has set work in hand to review all major equipment and support contracts to ensure the future programme is coherent with future defence needs and can be afforded.

AWE Aldermaston

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has taken steps to establish whether development of the proposed new hydrodynamics facility at AWE Aldermaston is consistent with the recommendations and actions from the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

Peter Luff: Proposals for a replacement hydrodynamics facility at AWE Aldermaston have been developed to ensure full compliancy with our non-proliferation treaty (NPT) obligations.

Defence

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 178W, on defence, if he will publish a list of senior personnel from his Department working in the team when its final membership is determined.

Liam Fox: The work within my Department for the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) is being led by the Director General Strategy, Tom McKane, and coordinated by the Head of the Strategy Unit, Paul Vincent Devine.
	A number of other senior staff in the Department are also participating in the SDSR in their areas of expertise.

Defence Equipment: Sales

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the nationality was of purchasers of  (a) ships,  (b) vehicles and  (c) aircraft purchased through (i) the Disposal Services Authority and (ii) e-disposals, by monetary value of purchase in each year for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: Since 1982 the following ex-Royal Navy and ex-Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have been sold to other countries by the Disposal Services Authority (DSA) or its predecessor organisations.
	
		
			  Ship  Date  Country  Gross revenue  (£/€) 
			 HMS Lynx February 1982 Bangladesh £1,500,000 
			 HMS Norfolk February 1982 Chile £8,200,000 
			 RFA Tidepool February 1982 Chile £1,800,000 
			 HMS London March 1982 Pakistan £2,000,000 
			 Total financial year 1981-82   £13,500,000 
			 
			 HMS Bacchante August 1982 New Zealand £11,000,000 
			 HMS Dido August 1982 New Zealand £6,000,000 
			 Total financial year 1982-83   £17,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Antrim March 1984 Chile £8,500,000 
			 HMS Gurkha March 1984 Indonesia £2,500,000 
			 HMS Tartar March 1984 Indonesia £2,500,000 
			 HMS Zulu March 1984 Indonesia £3,500,000 
			 Total financial year 1983-84   £16,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Hermes April 1986 India 22,500,000 
			 HMS Hydra April 1986 Indonesia £2,000,000 
			 HMS Glamorgan September 1986 Chile £8,500,000 
			 Total financial year 1986-87   £33,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Fife July 1987 Chile £12,000,000 
			 Total financial year 1987-88   £12,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Apollo May 1988 Pakistan £9,000,000 
			 HMS Diomede May 1988 Pakistan £9,000,000 
			 HMS Swallow August 1988 Republic of Ireland £4,000,000 
			 HMS Swift August 1988 Republic of Ireland £4,000,000 
			 Total financial year 1988-89   £26,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Olympus July 1989 Canada £2,660,000 
			 Total financial year 1989-90   £2,660,000 
			 
			 HMS Achilles November 1990 Chile £2,400,000 
			 HMS Penelope March 1991 Ecuador £14,584,000 
			 HMS Danae (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total financial year 1990-91   £16,984,000 
			 
			 HMS Attacker November 1991 Lebanon £730,000 
			 HMS Hunter (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Striker (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Fencer (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Chaser (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 RMAS Throsk November 1991 Ecuador £200,000 
			 RMAS Waterside (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 RMAS Green Rover April 1992 Indonesia £6,000,000 
			 Total financial year 1991-92   £6,930,000 
			 
			 HMS Ariande May 92 Chile £3,000,000 
			 RMAS Blue Rover March 1993 Portugal £5,500,000 
			 Total financial year 1992-93   £8,500,000 
			 
			 HMS Ambuscade July 1993 Pakistan £59,334,000 
			 HMS Amazon (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Arrow (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Alacrity (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Active (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Avenger (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Jersey November 1993 Bangladesh £950,000 
			 Total financial year 1993-94   £60,284,000 
			 
			 HMS Herford July 1994 Bangladesh £3,600,000 
			 HMS Carron (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Waveney (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Dovey (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Broadsword November 1994 Brazil £116,000,000 
			 HMS Battleaxe (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Brazen (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Brilliant (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Helmsdale November 1994 Brazil £3,000,000 
			 HMS Humber (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Ribble (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Andromeda February 1995 India £1,650,000 
			 Total financial year 1994-95   £124,450,000 
			 
			 HMS Itchen August 1996 Brazil £4,400,000 
			 HMS Spey (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Arun (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Blackwater (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Plover January 1997 Philippines £7,500,000 
			 HMS Peacock (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Starling (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total financial year 1996-97   £11,900,000 
			 
			 HMS Unseen January 1998 Canada £227,400,000 
			 HMS Unicorn (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Ursula (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Upholder (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total financial year 1998-99   £227,400,000 
			 
			 HMS Bicester July 2000 Greece £10,000,000 
			 HMS Berkeley February 2001 (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Orkney December 2000 Trinidad and Tobago £1,500,000 
			 Total financial year 2000-01   £11,500,000 
			 
			 HMS Orwell June 2001 Guyana £1,500,000 
			 Total financial year 2001-02   £1,500,000 
			 
			 HMS Shetland August 2002 Bangladesh £8,000,000 
			 HMS Alderney (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Anglesey (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Lindisfarne (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Guernsey (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS London (1)- Romania £116,000,000 
			 HMS Coventry (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total financial year 2002-03   £124,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Sheffield April 2003 Chile £27,000,000 
			 Total financial year 2003-04   £27,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Norfolk October 2005 Chile £134,000,000 
			 HMS Grafton (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Marlborough (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total financial year 2005-06   £134,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Sandown September 2006 Estonia £32,000,000 
			 HMS Inverness (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Bridport (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total financial year 2006-07   £32,000,000 
			 
			 RFA Sir Galahad July 2007 Brazil £5,235,000 
			 Total financial year 2007-08   £5,235,000 
			 
			 RFA Sir Bedivere October 2009 Brazil £10,000,000 
			 HMS Cottesmore November 2009 Lithuania (2)€55,000,000 
			 HMS Dulverton (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total financial year 2009-10   £10,000,000 
			 
			 HMS Leeds Castle April 2010 Bangladesh £2,450,000 
			 HMS Dumbarton Castle (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 HMS Roebuck May 2010 (1)- £4,800,000 
			 Total financial year 2010-11   £7,250,000 
			 (1) Indicates brace.  (2) Not all received yet. 
		
	
	Additionally, the following vehicles and aircraft have been sold and prices have been included where records exist:
	 2008
	'C' Vehicles to Jordan armed forces totalling approximately £1.8 million in value.
	 1997
	Six Wessex helicopters to Uruguay.
	 1999
	Two Hercules aircraft to Sri Lanka.
	 2003
	Three Hercules aircraft to Austrian Air Force.
	 2005
	One Hercules aircraft to Royal Netherlands Air Force.
	The value of the aircraft sales is not available because only incomplete records exist for the period prior to the establishment of the DSA and its transfer into Defence Logistics Organisation in April 2005.
	Vessels and aircraft are not sold through e-disposals. Vehicles are, but information on the monetary value of receipts from the e-disposals service is not recorded by the DSA. The items sold under e-disposals are disposed of by contractors who are not required to declare the breakdown of their income to the DSA.

Defence: Procurement

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) new helicopters,  (b) transport aircraft,  (c) multi-role Typhoon aircraft and  (d) new warships have been delivered since 1997.

Peter Luff: holding answer 17 June 2010
	Details of new air and maritime platforms, not including enhancements to existing equipments, are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Type  Number  Years delivered 
			  Helicopters
			  Apache AH Mkl 67 1999-2004 
			  Chinook Mk2a 6 1998 
			  Chinook Mk3 8 2001 
			  Merlin Mkl 43 1997-2001 
			  Merlin Mk3 22 2000-02 
			  Merlin Mk3a 6 2008 
			  Sea King Mk3a 2 1997 
			  Transport Aircraft
			  C-17 6 2001-08 
			  Hercules CI30J 25 1998-2001 
			  Typhoon
			  Typhoon 64 2003 to date 
			  Warships
			  Type 23 Frigate 5 1997-2002 
			  Offshore Patrol Vessels 4 2003-06 
			  Sandown Class (MCMV) 7 1998-2001 
			  Landing Platform Helicopter 1 1998 
			  Landing Platform Dock 2 2003-04 
			  Vanguard Class Submarine 1 2000

Departmental Manpower

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) support staff in each role in theatre and  (b) other civilian staff were employed by his Department on the latest date for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: The latest figure for MOD civilian staff currently deployed in theatre is 956; of these 850 are locally employed civilians (LECs) and 106 are in support of Op Herrick in Afghanistan. These are broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Role  Staff numbers 
			 Civil Secretary 1 
			 Deputy Civil Secretary 2 
			 Policy Adviser 7 
			 Defence Adviser 8 
			 Commercial Officer 6 
			 Finance Officer 9 
			 Media Adviser 1 
			 Operational Analyst 6 
			 Scientific Adviser 4 
			 Fire Officer 1 
			 Ministry of Defence Police 20 
			 Area Claims Officer 2 
			 NHS Nurse 2 
			 Archivist 2 
			 Graphics Officer 1 
			 Defence Estates Project Manager 4 
			 Defence Support (DSG) 30 
			 Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) 850 
		
	
	The total number of civilian staff employed by MOD, including LECs, and those mentioned above is 85,590.

Departmental Manpower

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which posts in his Department which had been filled by uniformed personnel were changed into civilian posts in the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 17 June 2010
	The information requested is not held in a format that allows cross comparison. To produce the comparison requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Liam Fox: The Coalition Agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews it will be undertaking. My Department will bring forward detailed information about these reviews in due course.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopter frames he has ordered since May 2010.

Peter Luff: Since May 2010 the Ministry of Defence has not committed to any new contracts for helicopter frames. Our helicopter requirements are subject to review under the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Military Bases: Safety

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the level of safety of fuels and gases at  (a) military bases in the UK and  (b) permanent joint operating bases; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: All fuel and gas installations at UK military bases and permanent joint operating bases are maintained and operated in accordance with statutory and departmental requirements. The safety of storage and transportation of fuels and gases is of paramount importance and MOD constantly reviews and updates its procedures through the Defence Fuels and Gases Environmental and Safety Board. Fuel Safety Management Plans, covering all aspects of fuel and gas safety, for both compliance and environmental contingencies, are currently being revised. Any recommended improvements identified will be considered during the next annual planning round.
	All MOD facilities comply with the requirements of the relevant regulatory authority (Health and Safety Executive and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland). The Government Pipeline and Storage System facilities also comply with the Dangerous Substances and explosives Atmosphere Regulations 2002. All Oil and Pipeline Agency storage depots and pipelines have been assessed for risk, and adequate and effective measures are in place to deal with any incident that might arise.

Military Bases: Safety

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development Report 2009 by the Defence Environment and Safety Board; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 16 June 2010
	On behalf of the Secretary of State, the 2nd PUS chairs a Defence Environment and Safety Board (DESB) which monitors and reviews performance, and provides assurance to the Defence Board on the effective operation of risk management and internal control systems. The DESB's Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development Report 2009 was assessed by both the Defence Audit Committee and the Defence Board. The Defence Board noted the priorities in the DESB report and stressed its determination to do all that it could to continue improving the Department's Health and Safety performance.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of the contract for the delivery of Mantis Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); what criteria were used by his Department in deciding to award the contract; what alternatives to the Mantis UAVs were considered; and if he will make a statement .

Peter Luff: There is no contract for the delivery of Mantis Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Mantis was a one-off concept demonstrator programme that has now successfully concluded.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Chilcot Inquiry on the war with Iraq will be able to withhold publication of evidence on grounds other than national security; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: The Protocol agreed between the previous Government and the Inquiry sets out both the arrangements under which the Inquiry may request that the Government declassify documents for the Inquiry's public use, and the grounds on which such requests may be refused.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS, on special advisers, what the roles and responsibilities are of each special adviser listed in the statement.

David Cameron: I have nothing further to add to the written ministerial statement I made on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS.

USA: Oil

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what recent  (a) representations he has made to and  (b) discussions he has had with the President of the United States on BP; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: I refer my hon. Friend to the comments given by my official spokesman on 12 June 2010. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/06/gulf-oil-spill-pms-call-with-president-obama-51713

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Ministerial Announcements

Peter Bone: To ask the Leader of the House what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the provision of information on new policies to the House before the media.

David Heath: The Ministerial Code, issued by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, makes clear that when Parliament is in session, the most important announcements of Government policy should be made in the first instance, in Parliament.
	My right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House, has reiterated the importance of this issue to Cabinet colleagues.

Participation in Debate

Greg Hands: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the House's procedures in enabling more hon. Members to participate in debates.

David Heath: The use of time limits on speeches has enabled more hon. Members to be called in popular debates. I would welcome any further ideas the hon. Gentleman may have.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Football Club Governance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to reform football governance rules to support the co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Government will encourage the Football Association, Premier League, and Football League to work closely together to improve the governance and regulation of the game. This includes exploring better ways to involve supporters in their local clubs.

Football Club Governance

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the governing bodies of football on the governance of professional and amateur clubs.

Hugh Robertson: I have had introductory discussions with parts of the football family covering various issues, including governance. While it is not for Government to run football, I have made it clear that I expect football to address these issues internally.

Elite Sport

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will meet representatives of further and higher education institutions to discuss their contribution to elite performance programmes in sport.

Hugh Robertson: I would be happy to do so.

Pornographic Imagery

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to protect children from exposure to pornographic imagery on television and the internet.

Edward Vaizey: Effective protection for children can only be achieved by parents, industry and Government working together. Ofcom has a specific duty in relation to broadcasting and the Government will continue to work with a range of organisations in promoting online safety.

Arts Council England: Finance

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on future funding to the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: We are committed to Government funding to the arts through Arts Council England. Our proposed reform of the National Lottery Distribution Fund will ensure that the arts good cause (Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen, Arts Council Northern Ireland, UK Film) receives 20% of funds in future. Current projections suggest this will increase Lottery funding to the arts by £50 million per year.
	We recognise the importance of arts organisation operating on a mixed model of private giving, public funding and box office receipts and will aim to help arts organisations maximise their ability to raise money from private sources.

British Film Institute: UK Film Council

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to merge the British Film Institute and the UK Film Council.

Edward Vaizey: There are no current plans to merge the UK Film Council and the British Film Institute. However, I am planning to reassess fundamentally how the Government support film in this country. I want to make sure that we are supporting the film industry so that it is ready for the challenges it will face in the decade to come, and that we make sure every pound of public money we spend gives the maximum benefit.

Departmental Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2010,  Official Report, column 27W, on departmental official cars, what estimate he has made of the reduction in expenditure resulting from his Department's decision not to allocate cars or drivers to its Ministers; what the cost of using Ministerial cars and drivers was to his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what alternative forms of transport Ministers in his Department will be using to carry out official duties.

John Penrose: We estimate a saving of approximately £250,000 (subject to the resolution of contracts) from the Secretary of State's decision to cancel dedicated ministerial cars for this Department. The cost in 2009-10 was £367,181 (gross). It is for each Minister to arrange their own means of transport in carrying out their official duties, but Ministers are encouraged to use public transport where possible.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects a Combined Station Guide to become standard on all digital radio receivers sold in the UK.

Edward Vaizey: A working prototype of an integrated station guide has been developed. While further refinement of the guide is required, we will work with manufacturers to encourage its inclusion in future devices as and when appropriate.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that local radio stations which only transmit on FM do not lose prominence as digital radio penetration increases.

Edward Vaizey: The vast majority of digital radio sets on the market already receive FM as well as digital radio, but we are working with manufacturers to ensure that all future digital sets incorporate FM as standard. This will help ensure FM stations remain as accessible as digital stations.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he next intends to meet representatives of local radio stations to discuss the digital switchover.

Edward Vaizey: No meetings with representatives of local radio are scheduled at present. However, we are keen to meet all key stakeholders, including representatives of local radio, to consider how a transition from analogue to digital radio could be delivered in a way that meets the needs of both listeners and the radio industry.

Digital Economy Act 2010

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010 he expects to include in a legislative proposal for repeal; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: There are no plans to repeal any provisions in the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Listed Buildings: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to make a decision on the proposed listing by English Heritage of Coventry Market; what factors he is taking into account in his assessment of the suitability of that listing; what his most recent assessment is of the effects on the regeneration programme for Coventry of that listing; and what his most recent assessment is of the economic viability of the Coventry Market building.

John Penrose: I hope to be able to make a decision on the review of the listing decision regarding Coventry Retail Market before the end of June. In considering buildings for listing I am only able to take into account the statutory criteria of special architectural or historic interest, as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Music

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to assist the music industry.

Edward Vaizey: The music industry is an integral part of the creative industries, it is a growth sector that will play a major part in rebalancing the economy, so we are determined to have the right support in place. We will therefore be working closely with the music industry on a wide range of specific issues, including reducing online copyright infringement through the implementation of the Digital Economy Act 2010. In addition, 14 community music rehearsal spaces are being set up around England to encourage and develop grass-roots talent.

Olympic Games 2012

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many meetings he has had with the Olympic Delivery Authority on the future use of the Olympic stadium following the London 2012 Olympic Games; and if he will publish minutes of each meeting.

Hugh Robertson: holding answer 17 June 2010
	The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), rather than the Olympic Delivery Authority, is responsible for determining the future use of the stadium after the London 2012 Games. I have already met with OPLC to discuss a variety of issues and they are currently undertaking a market testing exercise to gauge the commercial interest in the legacy use of the stadium. They are keeping my right hon. Friend and I apprised of progress.

Olympic Games 2012: Cheshire

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of the London 2012 Olympics on the economy of  (a) city of Chester constituency and  (b) Cheshire West and Chester borough.

Hugh Robertson: I have not made a specific assessment of the effects of the Games on the economy of  (a) city of Chester constituency and  (b) Cheshire West and Chester borough. However, the north-west stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the 2012 Games, through businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations.
	Of the Olympic Delivery Authority's suppliers, 52 are businesses registered in the north-west, and more are winning work in the supply chains of its contractors.
	The Old Trafford football stadium will be one of the key non-London venues, hosting football matches, and along with pre-games training camps will provide an opportunity to create further economic benefits, including inward investment through the international attention that will follow.
	There are 68 facilities in the region which are included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide and seven of these are in Cheshire or Chester. To date, agreements are in place with members of the Oceania National Olympic Committees, the National Olympic Committee of Thailand and Australia's swimming team, formalising their intentions to use facilities in the region in the run-up to the games.
	There are 85 games-inspired projects in the north-west which have been awarded the Inspire Mark and during 2012, as part of the UK-wide cultural celebrations, there will be live sites in Manchester and Liverpool. Additionally, there are several cultural legacy projects in the north-west of which "We Play" is one. It combines digital, physical and virtual participation opportunities for people from all walks of life.

Olympic Games 2012: Renewable Energy

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the effects of the cancellation of the Olympic Park wind turbine on the environmental sustainability of the London 2012 Olympics; for what reasons the turbine was cancelled; where the replacement photovoltaic panels and biomass gasification unit will be located; when they will be installed; what consultation of local residents on the matter is planned; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) made careful assessment of the effects of the cancellation of the Olympic Park wind turbine on the environmental sustainability of London 2012 and has committed to meeting its 20% renewable energy target using the biomass boilers at the Energy Centre which will be commissioned in autumn 2010, together with alternative options.
	The decision not to proceed with the turbine project was taken because of a number of factors in the industry, including new safety legislation introduced in 2010 applying to design elements of this particular wind turbine (specifically the internal operator lift), which the preferred bidder's turbine supplier for the project felt unable to meet before the Games. This led to them subsequently withdrawing from the project.
	Subsequent industry feedback on the new safety directive, coupled with a challenging delivery timetable, revealed a limited commercial interest in the project, and led the ODA to conclude that the installation of a wind turbine was no longer feasible.
	Photovoltaic panels and a biomass gasification unit are among the alternative options being considered, but no final decision about either of these has been made and a programme of consultation will be part of any required planning process.

S4C: Finance

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the compatibility of reductions in S4C's budget with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: I have discussed the matter with S4C and the Wales Office.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 106W.

Scouts and Guides: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what support his Department provides to the  (a) Scout Association and  (b) Girl Guides; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England has supported scout and guide groups in the past through their open funding streams and Sport Unlimited funding. I would encourage both sets of groups to consider applying in the future where they meet the objectives and eligibility criteria.

Tourism: Coastal Areas

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the encouragement of tourism in seaside towns and cities; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The seaside remains an important part of our visitor economy. We recently announced a goal to increase the proportion of UK residents' tourism spend that goes on domestic holidays to 50% of their total tourism spend at home and abroad, and coastal destinations and attractions can contribute significantly to that achievement. VisitEngland are currently developing a seaside resorts action plan, as part of their broader planning to improve the growth and competitiveness of the visitor economy.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Construction

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in each region in each of the last four years.

Andrew Stunell: The information requested is published in the following table.
	Not all affordable housing is provided through new-build completions as supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2008-09, for example, a total of 55,770 additional affordable homes were provided in England.
	The next CLG Affordable Housing statistical release containing figures for 2009-10 is scheduled to be published in the autumn of 2010.
	
		
			  Additional new-build affordable home by region of England( 1,2) 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 East of England 4,160 5,020 6,220 6,180 
			 East Midlands 2,480 2,370 3,250 3,570 
			 London 7,460 10,190 11,090 8,600 
			 North East 930 1,230 820 1,300 
			 NorthWest 2,040 2,230 3,220 3,120 
			 South East 7,500 7,600 8,310 8,100 
			 SouthWest 3,770 3,360 4,670 5,620 
			 West Midlands 3,370 2,440 3,750 4,340 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,550 1,830 1,940 2,400 
			 England(3) 33,260 36,260 43,260 43,220 
			 (1) Column totals may not sum as data is rounded to nearest 10 units. (2) By area in which home is located. (3) Figures for recycled capital grant fund, disposal proceeds fund, and remodelled units which cannot be broken down to show new build and acquisitions are excluded from this total.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  with which New Build Homebuy schemes announced by his Department in  (a) September 2009 and  (b) January 2010 the Homes and Communities Agency has not yet entered into a funding agreement;
	(2)  with which New Build Homebuy schemes the Homes and Communities Agency has entered into a funding agreement to date.

Andrew Stunell: The overall funding allocations for the National Affordable Housing Programme announced by the Department in September 2009 and January 2010 included funding for New Build HomeBuy schemes. All of those schemes have received a formal allocation of funding.
	The HCA have made allocations to 2,083 New Build HomeBuy schemes since the start of the 2008-11 National Affordable Housing Programme. The HCA publishes regional allocation statements for the NAHP on a quarterly basis on their website at:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/inyourarea

Affordable Housing: Construction

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what savings have been  (a) announced and  (b) proposed in expenditure on the National Affordable Housing Programme for (i) 2010-11 and (ii) future years.

Andrew Stunell: I refer the hon. Member to the announcement made by the Chancellor and the Chief Secretary on 24 May with regard to the £6.2 billion of savings identified. Decisions on funding for affordable housing in 2010-11 will be made as part of the Budget on 22 June and for future years as part of the spending review.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in the South Lakeland region in each of the last five years.

Andrew Stunell: The information requested is published in the table.
	Not all affordable housing is provided through new-build completions as supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2008-09, for example, a total of 80 additional affordable homes were provided in South Lakeland.
	The next CLG Affordable Housing statistical release containing figures for 2009-10 is scheduled to be published in the autumn of 2010.
	
		
			  Additional new-build affordable homes located in South Lakeland district( 1) 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 30 
			 2005-06 70 
			 2006-07 80 
			 2007-08 90 
			 2008-09 40 
			 (1) Rounded to nearest 10 units.

Affordable Housing: Rural Areas

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to take forward the work of the Taylor Review on Affordable Housing; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Taylor Review of Rural Economy and Affordable Housing 'Living Working Countryside' made 34 recommendations to the previous Government. As of February 2010, 17 recommendations had been implemented by Communities and Local Government (CLG) and its partners. Ministers have not yet decided whether and how to take forward any remaining recommendations.

Council Housing: Construction

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on local authorities borrowing against their housing stock to fund the construction of new social homes for rent.

Andrew Stunell: Local authorities are free to borrow without Government consent for capital projects of any kind including, if they wish, the construction of new social homes for rent. Authorities cannot offer housing stock as security for loans. Instead, all borrowing is secured upon their revenues. It is the amount of revenue income available to service debt which determines how much they can borrow.

Councillors: Conduct

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the oral answer of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 443-44, on garden development, when he plans to bring forward proposals to repeal the regulations on pre-determination.

Bob Neill: We intend to ensure that councillors have the power to speak up on issues that are important to those they represent and will as necessary legislate for this as soon as practicable.

Councillors: Pay

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the level of transparency of the mechanisms by which local authorities publish details of the remuneration of councillors by the Improvement and Development Agency.

Bob Neill: No. However, every councillor is required through the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 to enter in the council's register of members' interests, which is available for public inspection, details of their employment by any person or body who employs them, where the business of the authority relates to or is likely to affect that person or body. We are committed to ensuring that councillor's remuneration is published in a more open and standardised way to increase transparency.

Councillors: Pay

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Improvement and Development Agency has paid to each councillor in each of the last three years.

Bob Neill: My Department does not hold this information.

Decentralisation and Localism Bill

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his timetable is for the introduction and passage of a Decentralisation and Localism Bill; and whether he plans to consult on proposals to be contained in the Bill.

Greg Clark: The Government intend to introduce legislation to devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions later in this parliamentary session, with a view to achieving Royal Assent as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	The Government will set out more detail about proposals to be contained in legislation over the coming months and consult further with interested parties and business partners where this is necessary to develop the policy over the summer.

Housing: Construction

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which sites in Tameside local authority area have received funding from the Kickstart programme.

Andrew Stunell: The following table sets out the sites in the Tameside local authority area where developers have received funding from the Kickstart programme.
	
		
			  Project name  Developer  Funding (£ million)  Total number of units unlocked 
			 Longlands Urban Splash Group 4.9 59 
			 Grove Road Countryside Properties (Northern) Ltd 0.7 58

Housing: Construction

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to ensure that local need remains a criterion in the future development of housing policy;
	(2)  when he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on how future housing provision should be determined; and what criteria will be used for such determinations.

Bob Neill: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the leader of each local authority in England on 27 May to reaffirm our commitment to abolish regional strategies and return decision making powers on housing and planning to local councils. Decisions on housing supply will rest with local planning authorities without the framework of regional numbers and plans. The Government will make a formal announcement on this matter in due course.

Housing: Cornwall

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of second homes in  (a) Cornwall and  (b) St Austell and Newquay constituency.

Bob Neill: In October 2009, Cornwall council reported there were 13,995 homes registered as second homes for council tax purposes in their area.
	Data are not available at a constituency level.

Housing: Cornwall

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the level of housing need in each local authority ward in  (a) Cornwall and  (b) St Austell and Newquay constituency.

Andrew Stunell: My Department does not estimate housing need. This is for the local authority to do, taking account of all the relevant evidence.

Local Government Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 15WS, on local government savings package, if he will itemise the component programmes, departmental reductions and NDPB savings that form the £90.4 million savings listed as cutting waste.

Bob Neill: The following table breaks down the £90.421 million of savings that my Department has made under the heading of "Cutting waste-CLG, Quangos and lower priority programmes" which formed part of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State's written statement of 10 June 2010, full details of which can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1611369.
	This is part of the £780 million contribution Communities and Local Government has made overall towards the £6.2 billion cross government savings in 2010-11.
	
		
			  Programmes 2010-11  Description  Savings (£000) 
			 Cutting waste-CLG, quangos and lower priority programmes  90,421 
			
			 Running costs-CLG Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 26,954 
			 Running costs-Regional development agencies Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 17,000 
			
			  Running costs- q uangos   
			 PINS Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 6,000 
			 Thames Gateway-Direct Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets-UDC contingency 500 
			 Thames Gateway-London UDC Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 600 
			 Thames Gateway-Thurrock UDC Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 600 
			 National Tenant Voice Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 79 
			 Building Research Advisory Committee Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 2 
			 National Housing and Planning Advice Unit Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 215 
			 Tenant Services Authority Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 2,835 
			 Homes and Communities Agency Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 8,831 
			 Infrastructure Planning Commission Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 735 
			 West Northants Development Corporation Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 1,000 
			 Community Development Foundation Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 167 
			 Leasehold Advisory Service Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 158 
			 FireBuy Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 137 
			 Residential Property Tribunal Service Efficiency savings from 2010-11 budgets 1,187 
			
			  Lower priority programmes   
			 Fire-New Dimensions Programme Procurement saving 5,000 
			 Crosscutting Cohesion and Extremism Projects Unallocated funding 3,100 
			 Thames Gateway Unallocated funding 500 
			 Cohesion and Faith Programme (non LG element) Unallocated funding 3,235 
			 Prevent Programme (non ABG element) Unallocated funding 6,586 
			 Unallocated funding Unallocated funding 5,000

Local Government Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effect on Harrow of proposed reductions in local government funding.

Bob Neill: We have asked local authorities to make a contribution of £1.166 billion to the £6.2 billion of cross-Government savings in 2010-11 to enable the Government to take immediate action to start to tackle the fiscal deficit. The reduction in grants for which final allocations had been announced for the London borough of Harrow is £1.291 million. This is a reduction of 0.5% compared to their overall main revenue grants allocation.
	Local authorities are free to make their own decisions about where savings are found. We have ensured that councils have the flexibility to take decisions locally on how to deliver the savings needed without impacting on essential frontline services.

Local Government: Public Consultation

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 239W, on local government: public consultation, which individual and organisations he plans to consult informally.

Andrew Stunell: As soon as we have considered the detailed options for delivering our commitment to help communities to save local facilities, we will be in a position to identify those who it will be important to consult informally on those proposals. However, I can assure the hon. Member that we will be consulting other Government Departments, representatives of local government, including in particular the Local Government Association, representatives of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors, representatives of the commercial property and small business sectors and the relevant professional bodies. I will be happy to let him have a list in due course, and would welcome any particular suggestions he would like to make.

Regional Planning and Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his proposals to abolish regional spatial strategies, whether existing planning policy statements (PPS) will be retained; whether the principles set out in PPS1 will still apply; whether local development frameworks will continue; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: In the Coalition Agreement the Government stated that it will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development. An announcement on how we propose to take forward the national planning framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy will be made in due course.
	We are absolutely committed to abolishing Regional Strategies. We are keen to move in advance of legislation and are currently considering revoking Regional Strategies ahead of taking legislation through Parliament. We will make a statement in due course. We are also committed to giving neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape the places in which their inhabitants live. In the light of this we will review some elements of the local development framework system to ensure it reflects our policy on decentralisation and a simpler planning system.

Regional Planning and Development

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the oral answer of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 455-56, on regional spatial strategies, from what date local authorities will be able to retain council tax receipts in respect of new housing for which they have granted planning permission; whether all such tax receipts will be sent to the local planning authority, with particular reference to district councils in two-tier areas; for how many years those authorities will receive such receipts; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Government intend to provide incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development, including for new homes and businesses as set out in the coalition agreement. We will bring forward proposals to commence at the earliest opportunity.

Regional Planning and Development

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his letter to council leaders of 27 May 2010 supersedes the advice to Planning Inspectorate inspectors contained in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of Regional Strategies - Forthcoming Abolition; by what process he plans to abolish regional strategies; what representations he has received from housebuilders and their representative organisation on guidance on continuing application of regional strategies; whether he plans to issue further guidance on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Planning Inspectorate's note does not supersede the Secretary of State's letter of 27 May, it sets out advice to inspectors on how to deal with decision in the light of the Secretary of State's letter. Provisions to abolish regional strategies will be in the Government's 'Localism' Bill. We are very keen to move quickly and are currently considering the implications of revoking regional strategies ahead of taking legislation through Parliament.
	We have received representations from house builders and the Home Builders Federation regarding the implications for house building and transitional arrangements. We will make a statement shortly and plan to issue advice on the implications of abolishing regional strategies.

Regional Planning and Development: West Midlands

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government plans to reply to the  (a) Second and  (b) Third report of the West Midlands Regional Select Committee of Session 2009-10.

Bob Neill: Yes, the Government will be responding to these reports in the near future.

Standards Board for England

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of operating the Standards Board for England and Wales since 2005.

Bob Neill: The grant provided to the Standards Board since 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			   Standards Board for England grant-in-aid (£000)  Adjudication Panel for England (£000)  Total cost (£000) 
			 2005-06 8,651 530 9,181 
			 2006-07 11,424 357 11,781 
			 2007-08 9,785 275 10,060 
			 2008-09 8,027 258 8,285 
			 2009-10 7,726 (1)- 7,726 
			 (1) From 2009-2010 onwards responsibility for the Adjudication Panel for England (now known as First-tier Tribunal (Local Government Standards in England)) transferred to the Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	For 2010-11, as we announced on 10 June, we are requiring savings of £1.45 million from the Standards Board and will be confirming their resulting budget shortly.
	The conduct of local authority members in Wales is a matter for the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in respect of how many traveller encampments in each  (a) county,  (b) metropolitan and  (c) unitary local authority area legal powers were used to move the encampment on in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Andrew Stunell: The data requested are not held by Communities and Local Government.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010 on local government savings package, on what basis he has concluded that there is only limited evidence the Working Neighbourhood Fund has been effective.

Bob Neill: We are unable to prove the effectiveness of Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) because there is little or no evidence on the outputs/outcomes associated with the fund. WNF is paid as part of the area-based grant. The fact that the fund is un-ringfenced means that outputs/outcomes are not monitored; and hence we are unable to evaluate its impact.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities are to have a reduction in funding allocation per head of population from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund in 2010-11.

Andrew Stunell: The Working Neighbourhoods Fund is paid as part of area based grant. All local authorities that are eligible for working neighbourhoods fund have received a reduction in their area based grant funding. Where revenue grants to local authorities have been reduced, no local authority will face a reduction of more than 2% overall. Wigan will receive a reduction of 0.8% (£2.92 million) in their total main revenue grant allocation for 2010-11. Local government will be free to make their own decisions about where savings are found. We have ensured that councils have the flexibility to take decisions locally on how to deliver the savings needed.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) her Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which her Department is responsible.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA, including our non departmental public bodies and agencies, currently manages 82 websites. The URL for each is set out in the following table. As part of the Transformational Government Website Rationalisation process, we anticipate that around 57 of these will close by April 2011.
	 Current URLS expected to close by April 2011
	http://www.agwasteplastics.org.uk
	http://www.bobw.co.uk
	http://countryside-quality-counts.org.uk
	http://www.ecolots.co.uk
	http://www.efishbusiness.co.uk
	http://www.envirowise.gov.uk
	http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk
	http://www.ghgi.org.uk
	http://www.iwac.org.uk
	http://www.landscapecharacter.org.uk
	http://laqmsupport.org.uk
	http://www.lupg.org.uk
	http://www.magic.gov.uk
	http://www.mfa.gov.uk
	http://www.naei.org.uk
	http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk
	http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk
	http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk
	http://www.plantcultures.org
	http://www.searchmesh.net
	http://www.ukbap.org.uk
	http://www.ukmaburbanforum.co.uk
	http://www.uknlo.gov.uk
	http://www.vet-residues-committee.gov.uk
	http://www.vpc.gov.uk
	http://www.wapis.org.uk
	http://www.wastematters.org.uk
	http://www.whi.org.uk
	http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive
	http://whi.net.countryside.gov.uk
	http://www.crosscompliance.org.uk
	http://www.eca-water.gov.uk
	http://www.rpa.gov.uk
	http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/review
	http://www.ukcip.org.uk
	http://outdoorhealthforum.com
	http://ukglobalinfluence.org
	http://wetlandvision.org.uk
	http://hillfarming.org.uk
	http://intertidalmanagement.co.uk
	http://www.nationalbiodiversity.org
	http://wastedirectory.org.uk
	http://www.streamlife.org.uk
	http://www.remas.ewindows.eu.org
	http://www.uk-pollutantdeposition.ceh.ac.uk
	http://www.frame.ceh.ac.uk
	http://critloads.ceh.ac.uk
	http://www.diamondsinthelandscape.org.uk
	http://www.tothetable.co.uk
	http://www.uksocialdeprivation.aeat.com
	http://socialcostofcarbon.aeat.com/html/introduction.htm
	http://www.mdcdatum.org.uk
	http://www.wfduk.org
	http://www.landshapes.org
	http://robin-wood.eu
	http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk
	 Current URLS expected to remain beyond April 2011
	http://www.defra.gov.uk
	http://www.cobody.gov.uk
	http://www.fawc.org.uk
	http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk
	http://www.seac.gov.uk
	http://www.dwi.gov.uk
	http://www.gla.gov.uk
	http://www.jncc.gov.uk
	http://www.potatoesforcaterers.co.uk
	http://laws.gla.gov.uk
	http://www.cefas.co.uk
	http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
	http://www.naturalengland.org.uk
	http://www.beefyandlamby.co.uk
	http://www.bmesonline.org.uk
	http://www.britishmeatfoodservice.com
	http://www.lovepork.co.uk
	http://www.netregs.gov.uk
	http://www.schoolmilk.co.uk
	http://potatoesforschools.org.uk
	http://www.britishpotatoes.co.uk
	http://www.lovechips.co.uk
	http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
	http://www.potatoposters.co.uk
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk

Departmental Postal Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on postage in 2009.

Richard Benyon: From information held centrally for core DEFRA, £255,441.91 was spent in the fiscal year 2009-10 on postage.
	To provide the information for all DEFRA executive agencies and executive and advisory NDPBs would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Water Charges

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of  (a) service charge,  (b) sewerage charge,  (c) water usage charge, (d) fire-fighting provision charge and  (e) any other relevant charge for water and sewerage provision was to Site 5 Almondbank, Perthshire in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007, (iv) 2008, (v) 2009 and (vi) 2010; and to which companies these payments were made.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 15 June 2010
	In respect of the retained part of Site 5 Almondbank, the departmental records show that for the years in question  (a) no costs were incurred in respect of service charges;  (b) no sewage charges have been raised;  (c) the annual water charges paid are listed in the table below;  (d) no cost has been incurred in respect of fire fighting provision; and  (e) no other water and sewage related charges other than those listed in the following table have been levied against the property.
	We are currently unable to identify the specific spend incurred in respect of Site 5 Almondbank during 2005 from the financial data available.
	
		
			   Supplier  Cost discharged (£) 
			 2005 - Not available 
			 2006 Business Stream, A Scottish Water Company 9,502.00 
			 2007 Business Stream, A Scottish Water Company 14,724.76 
			 2008 Business Stream, A Scottish Water Company 21,036.57 
			 2009 Business Stream, A Scottish Water Company 12,959.44 
			 2010 Business Stream, A Scottish Water Company 769.21

Fisheries: Quotas

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to support fishermen in Thanet experiencing restrictions in fishing activity arising from allocations of quota.

Richard Benyon: I recognise the difficulties currently facing the inshore fleet. The shortage of fishing opportunities in the Thanet area is, in part, the result of international quota swaps that are usually secured to supplement the inshore fleets' allocations not being forthcoming this year. The Marine Management Organisation is continuing to pursue swaps in order to secure additional quota.
	However, there are more fundamental issues to resolve in order to deliver reform of the inshore fleet that is clearly needed. I plan to meet representatives from across industry to drive forward work to find long-term solutions, as a matter of priority.

National Parks: Public Consultation

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable she has set for public consultation on democratic accountability in national parks.

Richard Benyon: As set out in the Government's coalition document, we will be reviewing the governance arrangements of national parks, and I will shortly be writing to the chairs of the national park authorities on this issue. No timetable has yet been set, but we will ensure the DEFRA website is updated on progress.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when a ban on  (a) battery cages for hens and  (b) beak-trimming for hens will come into effect.

James Paice: The welfare of laying hens is protected in England by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 and by similar legislation in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The legislation implements EU Directive 99/74/EC, which among other welfare advances bans the use of conventional cages for laying hens from 2012.
	The Government remain entirely committed to the conventional cage ban coming into force on 1 January 2012 and to supporting industry during this transitional stage. We want to ensure that those UK producers who have already made significant investment to comply with the legislation, by converting out of conventional cages, are not disadvantaged if other countries do not meet the 2012 deadline.
	The Government have accepted the advice of The Farm Animal Welfare Council, an independent advisory body, that a complete ban on beak trimming of laying hens should not be introduced from 1 January 2011 (as is currently in legislation), but should be deferred until it can be demonstrated reliably under commercial conditions that laying hens can be managed without routine beak trimming.
	The Government's consultation on the proposed amendments to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, to remove the total ban on beak trimming allowing for the routine beak trimming of day old chicks intended for laying to be carried out using the infra-red technique only, closed on the 14 April. Consultation responses are currently being considered.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department plans to implement the ban on conventional battery cages for egg-laying hens.

James Paice: The welfare of laying hens is protected in England by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 and by similar legislation in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The legislation implements EU directive 99/74/EC, which among other welfare advances, bans the use of conventional cages for laying hens from 2012.
	The Government remain entirely committed to the conventional cage ban coming into force on 1 January 2012 and to supporting industry during this transitional stage. We want to ensure that those UK producers who have already made significant investment to comply with the legislation, by converting out of conventional cages, are not disadvantaged if other countries do not meet the 2012 deadline.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department plans to implement the ban on beak-trimming of egg-laying hens.

James Paice: The Government have accepted the advice of the Farm Animal Welfare Council, an independent advisory body, that a complete ban on beak trimming of laying hens should not be introduced from 1 January 2011 (as is currently in legislation), but should be deferred until it can be demonstrated reliably under commercial conditions that laying hens can be managed without routine beak trimming.
	The Government's consultation on the proposed amendments to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, to remove the total ban on beak trimming allowing for the routine beak trimming of day old chicks intended for laying to be carried out using the infra-red technique only, closed on the 14 April. Consultation responses are currently being considered.

Water

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the factors  (a) affecting current and  (b) likely to affect future levels of sustainability of national freshwater resources, with particular reference to abstraction levels from rivers.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has assessed factors affecting the current sustainability of national freshwater resources through the Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy process. A full assessment was completed for England and Wales in March 2008 and will be updated by 2011.
	In 2009 The Environment Agency published its Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales. This strategy examines the factors which may affect the future availability of water resources up to the 2050s.

Water

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the future sustainability of national freshwater resources.

Richard Benyon: In 2009 the Environment Agency published its Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales. In the strategy the Environment Agency assessed the sustainability of future water resources to the 2050s. The strategy includes a series of actions needed to deliver a secure water supply and safeguard the environment.
	A copy of the strategy can be found on the Environment Agency's website.

Water Charges

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consult on the recommendation of the Walker Review of charging for household water and sewerage services on the introduction of a nationwide levy on water customers for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Richard Benyon: Ministers will consider the recommendations made in the Walker Review ahead of taking decisions about next steps.

Water Companies: Regulation

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to  (a) publish the proposed White Paper on the water industry and  (b) bring forward legislative proposals on the regulation of the water industry.

Richard Benyon: We are currently considering options for the scope and timing of a water White Paper. Any new legislative proposals will follow the publication of this White Paper.

Water: EU Law

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the country meets its targets for good environmental status under the EU Water Framework Directive.

Richard Benyon: Production of the statutory River Basin Management Plans provides the planning mechanism for ensuring that the country meets its obligations under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The Plans provide an assessment of the current status of water bodies in each river basin district and a summary of agreed measures for achieving the environmental objectives of the WFD. Plans are updated on a six yearly cycle, starting from 2009-15.
	The first River Basin Management Plans were developed in consultation with relevant organisations and individuals and were published by the WFD deadline of 22 December 2009. River basin district liaison panels, which included representatives of the key water interests in the river basin district, assisted the Environment Agency in producing draft plans before a formal six month written consultation was carried out.
	Mechanisms to achieve the environmental objectives set under the WFD include: compliance with existing regulations, codes of practice and controls on the use of certain substances; Catchment Sensitive Farming activities and agri-environment schemes; and water efficiency measures.
	The actions summarised in Annex C of the plans will improve more than 8,300 miles of rivers in England. More than 8,500 investigations that are in progress or planned will provide the evidence base required for further action to protect and improve our water resources within the first and subsequent planning cycles. The plans are available on the Environment Agency's website:
	www.environment-agency.gov.uk
	at:
	www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/33106.aspx

Whales: Conservation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will oppose any new forms of commercial whaling at the forthcoming International Whaling Committee meeting in Agadir, Morocco; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: I plan to attend the 62nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission where I will call on all countries to oppose any weakening of the current ban. We are taking every opportunity to build strong support for the continuation of the moratorium, including raising this matter with Ministers in Europe and in other countries.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Central America: Storms

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid his Department has provided to support areas affected by tropical storm Agatha in  (a) Guatemala,  (b) Honduras and  (c) El Salvador.

Alan Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by the Secretary of State for International Development on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 310W, on Central America: Storms.

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government Departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Alan Duncan: Over the coming months the Department for International Development (DFID) will review all major spending areas. The Secretary of State for International Development has commissioned a review of DFID's bilateral and multilateral aid programmes.
	The purpose of the bilateral aid review is to ensure that we target UK aid where it is needed most and will make the most significant impact on poverty reduction. The review will consider which countries should receive British aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving British aid. It will also consider which aid instruments are most effective at delivering poverty reduction in different contexts.
	The multilateral aid review will examine our funding of international agencies against the UK's objectives on poverty reduction and each agency's ability to deliver results on the ground.
	We expect these reviews to be completed later this year.

Developing Countries: Children

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have responsibility for ensuring that children with disabilities (i) have input into and (ii) are taken account of in his Department's work on education.

Andrew Mitchell: Supported by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr O'Brien), I have responsibility for the Department for International Development's (DFID) work on the needs of children with disabilities. Officials in the Human Development Group, Governance and Social Development Group and Country Offices are involved in the development and implementation of evidence-based policy for children with disabilities, including education policy.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on the replenishment of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Andrew Mitchell: I wrote to the executive director of the Global Fund, Professor Michel Kazatchkine, on 9 June 2010 to inform him that the Department for International Development (DFID) has launched a Multilateral Aid Review to look at core funding provided by DFID to multilateral agencies. The review will include an assessment of the relevance of the Global Fund to the UK's objectives on poverty reduction and its ability to deliver results on the ground. The results of the review will be an important element in any future funding decisions in respect of the Global Fund.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the  (a) transparency,  (b) accountability and  (c) effectiveness of the way (i) the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and (ii) other multilateral and bilateral global health programmes spend the UK's contributions.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has launched a Multilateral Aid Review which will look at core funding provided from DFID headquarters to multilateral agencies. It will include an assessment of the relevance of each organisation to the UK's objectives on poverty reduction and their ability to deliver results on the ground.
	his review, alongside a review of our bilateral aid programme and our humanitarian response will be integral to maximising the effectiveness of the UK's development efforts. The results of the Multilateral Aid Review will be an important element in any future funding decisions in respect of the Global Fund.

Developing Countries: Politics and Government

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on supporting developing countries to achieve good governance.

Stephen O'Brien: In "The Coalition: our programme for government", the government laid out our commitment to "use the aid budget to support the development of local democratic institutions, civil society groups, the media and enterprise; and support efforts to tackle corruption".
	The Department for International Development (DFID) will take this agenda forward. For example we will work to: empower citizens and make governments and donors more transparent and accountable; help build effective states in fragile and conflict affected countries; and tackle corruption.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ascension Island

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 January 2010,  Official Report, column 273W, on Ascension Island, whether the Ascension Island government and council have considered the draft report.

Henry Bellingham: The Island Council is considering the report and is consulting the major Employing Organisations on Ascension Island as part of its considerations.

Ascension Island

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the financial situation on Ascension Island on the island's services and amenities.

Henry Bellingham: The current financial situation on Ascension Island is difficult, as it is in much of the rest of the world. The Ascension Island Government has recently made a number of significant efficiency savings through its restructuring and modernisation programme and will continue to strive to provide the essential services required on the island.

Ascension Island

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the projected budget deficit is for  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12 for Ascension Island.

Henry Bellingham: The Ascension Island Government (AIG) is responsible for its budget. However I understand that a small surplus is projected for the end of the current financial year, provided all pay their assessed taxes, and that the AIG continues with its restructuring and modernisation programme. I also understand that no forecast for the 2011-12 budget has been carried out.

Ascension Island

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on the future financial arrangements for Ascension Island.

Henry Bellingham: Ascension Island Government (AIG)'s financial arrangements are the responsibility of the Island Council. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence (MOD) are however in discussions to work towards helping to achieve a solution to the ongoing dispute between AIG and MoD and to ensure a sustainable future for Ascension Island.

Ascension Island

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what each income stream of the Ascension Island government was in each of the last five financial years; what the source is of each such stream; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: This is a matter for the Ascension Island Government (AIG). The AIG is responsible for its own budget and holds this information.

Crimes of Violence: Females

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure the co-ordination of measures by Government departments to tackle violence against women overseas.

Jeremy Browne: Tackling violence against women overseas is a priority issue for the UK. The Government are committed to developing a coherent and strategic approach to this issue, building on the work we are already doing bilaterally with partner countries, and at the UN, to identify opportunities to increase our impact.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in discussion with the Department for International Development, Ministry of Defence, Home Office and the Government Equalities Office to take this work forward.

Cyprus: Peace Negotiations

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on Cyprus; what his Department's objectives are for the outcome of those talks; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: This is a UN-led process, by Cypriots for Cypriots, aimed at reaching an agreed settlement to the Cyprus problem for the benefit of all those on the island. The reunification of Cyprus would be the best thing for both communities, and the Government will do all they can to support the leaders as they work towards this. We welcome the resumption of negotiations in Cyprus under the agreed UN parameters and urge both leaders to work together to achieve a comprehensive settlement, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. The two leaders are currently discussing the issue of property and regular meetings are scheduled throughout June and July.

Diplomatic Service: Recruitment

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to take steps to increase the number of staff from working-class backgrounds recruited to HM Diplomatic Service.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) strives for a highly talented workforce which represents and reflects the diversity of modern Britain. The FCO's Partner Universities Placement Scheme has offered high-calibre undergraduates from low income backgrounds training placements at the FCO every summer since 2008. We continue to invest in that scheme.
	Our outreach programmes aim to attract talented applicants from diverse backgrounds. From 2010 the Cabinet Office will begin collecting and publishing data on the socio-economic background of entrants to the Senior Civil Service and the Civil Service Fast Stream. This will include Fast Stream applicants who go on to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

European Parliament

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 356, on the European Parliament, what answer he received from his French counterpart.

David Lidington: The French Europe Minister stated that the long-standing French position on maintaining the European Parliament's presence in Strasbourg remained unchanged.

Farai Maguwu

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek agreement at EU level for an investigation of allegations that Abbey Chikane and the Zimbabwean authorities have targeted and threatened Farai Maguwu of the Centre for Research and Development in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: We are deeply concerned about the treatment of Farai Maguwu and more broadly by the recent increase in arbitrary arrests, politically-inspired harassment and detention of civil society activists in Zimbabwe. We will continue to monitor Maguwu's case and of the accusations against him, including by attending court hearings where possible, and urge the Government of Zimbabwe to respect the rule of law. We will urge the EU also to do so, in its capacity as a Kimberley Process member.

Floribert Chebeya

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Floribert Chebeya in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: I am deeply concerned at the death of Mr Floribert Chebeya and made a statement to that effect on 3 June. The EU High Representative Cathy Ashton has also issued a statement of serious concern.
	Our ambassador in Kinshasa raised our concerns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 3 June. President Kabila has ordered an investigation into the death of Mr Chebeya. A number of police officers have been arrested and the Inspector General of Police Mr John Numbi has been suspended.
	A Dutch forensics team were in DRC last week where they participated in an autopsy with the Congolese authorities. They have not yet been able to establish a cause of death, but will continue their investigations and will produce a report in the coming weeks.
	We will continue to follow developments closely, and press for a full, proper and transparent investigation to take place. We will stay in communication with the Government of DRC and international partners who share our concerns.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles of wine from each  (a) region of origin and  (b) vintage are held in the Government hospitality wine cellar;

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles of  (a) red wine,  (b) white wine,  (c) champagne and  (d) fortified wine there are in the Government Wine Cellar.

Henry Bellingham: The Government Hospitality (GH) wine cellar has held between 38,000 and 39,000 bottles of wine for the last five years. Excluding beverage wines, the most recent independent stock-take in April 2010 indicated that the cellar contained:
	25,883 bottles of red wine
	6,828 bottles of white wine
	1,779 bottles of champagne
	2,975 bottles of fortified wine.
	80% of the stock is French (from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Loire, Champagne and Alsace). Of the remaining stock 7% is Portuguese, 2% English and Welsh, 2% German, 1% Australian, 1% Italian and 1% American. Small quantities of Spanish, Austrian, Argentinean, Chilean, South African and New Zealand wines are also held. As reserves are used GH is able to diversify its stock as appropriate, while taking into account usage requirements, quality and value for money.
	It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of the numbers of bottles per vintage of each region of origin without incurring disproportionate costs. The cellar stock levels are regularly reassessed and its performance and value for money are reviewed throughout the year.

Palestinians: Human Rights

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of human rights violations by members of Hamas in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: Hamas has had a poor record in Gaza from the moment it violently ousted Fatah. Human rights organisations and other non-governmental organisations in Gaza are increasingly concerned about restrictions on their own activities and on the wider curtailing of personal freedoms.
	We share these concerns, including regarding violent harassment of political opponents, violent retribution-including summary executions-against those Hamas deem collaborators with Israel, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and a crack down on women's freedom.
	The UK calls on Hamas to take immediate and concrete steps towards the Quartet principles, unconditionally to release Gilad Shalit, who has been held in captivity for just under four years, and to end its interference with the operations of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies in Gaza.

Palestinians: International Assistance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received recent reports on the alleged closure by Hamas security forces of  (a) the Women and Children Society,  (b) the Palestinian Mini-Parliament and  (c) the South Society for Palestinian Women's Health; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We understand that Hamas' Internal Security Unit have ordered the closure until further notice of four organisations: the South Society for Women's Health, Women Child Development Association, Bonat al-Mustagbal Association and Sharek Youth Forum which is a UN partner organisation. We also understand that these organisations had their offices raided and equipment confiscated by Hamas' Internal Security Unit on 31 May.
	We call on Hamas to take immediate and concrete steps towards the Quartet principles, to release Gilad Shalit unconditionally, and to end its interference with the operations of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies in Gaza.

Palestinians: International Assistance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the alleged refusal of Hamas to accept aid transported from the flotilla ships; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We understand that Israel offered to transfer some of the aid to Gaza, but that Hamas refused to accept it. However, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) report that five truckloads of the flotilla aid have now been distributed within Gaza, facilitated by the Palestinian Authority co-ordination committee.
	What is important is that we focus now on the longer term issue of opening up Gaza to the humanitarian and reconstruction aid that it needs, and the flow of trade that will be essential to building up Gaza's economy, while at the same time ensuring that arms are not being transferred to Hamas in Gaza.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the lawfulness under international law of the Israeli interception of the Gaza convoy in international waters.

Alistair Burt: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement to the House on 2 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 437-39WS we are seriously concerned about the seizure of British nationals in international waters, and that aspect of the Israeli operation must form a key part of the investigation into events. But until we know the facts of what happened we cannot comment further.
	The announcement by the Government of Israel of an independent public Commission, including international observers, is an important step forward. Clearly the Commission must provide a full, credible, impartial and independent investigation that the international community can respect. We will be better able to judge whether this standard has been met as its work develops. It is important that the Commission is able to proceed swiftly, transparently and rigorously.

Sudan: Elections

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the forthcoming elections and referendum in South Sudan are free of violence and human rights violations.

Henry Bellingham: The Government are concerned about the human rights abuses and violent incidents which were associated with the elections held in Sudan in April 2010. We made clear our concerns to the Sudanese authorities and we regret that more was not done to address these.
	We will remain closely engaged and provide strong support including on security issues, in the run-up to the Referendum on Self-Determination for South Sudan in January 2011. We continue to emphasise the need for the Sudanese authorities to ensure a credible and peaceful process. We will be providing significant assistance to this end and we will urge the UN Mission in Sudan to play a central role.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received representations on the report by Philip Alston to the UN Human Rights Council on the use of drone planes.

Jeremy Browne: The UK is mentioned in a list of 12 countries who either use drones or are looking to acquire the capability immediately. We do not expect to have to respond to the report as it does not criticise the UK. In the debate of the report at the Human Rights Council, the UK was not mentioned by name and we have received no representations.

WALES

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government departments: reviews, what reviews her Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Cheryl Gillan: My Department is not currently undertaking any reviews.

Employment

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment she has made of the effects on the local economy of the transfer of jobs out of the South Wales valleys to Cardiff.

Cheryl Gillan: It is tragic that parts of the South Wales Valleys continue to have the highest levels of unemployment in Wales.
	The coalition Government are committed to helping the poorest communities in Wales to develop strong and sustainable growth by attracting targeted private sector inward investment. We also need to ensure that those out of work or on benefits are not trapped there by a system which has left too many better off on benefits than they would be with a job.

Local Broadcasting

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment she has made of the effect on the creative industries in Wales of the removal of the two year £12 million support for the independently funded new consortia pilot agreed by the last Government; and if she will make a statement.

Cheryl Gillan: The coalition Government consider that for the Government to subsidise news consortia would be an inappropriate use of scarce public funding. This kind of funding intervention-to prop-up expensive commercial regional news formats-would send the wrong message and would not provide a commercial incentive.
	To remain competitive we must adapt to the considerable changes within the sector and in particular to recent technological advances. Consumers are moving across the variety of platforms-TV, mobile phone, internet. We need to encourage this by ensuring the right regulatory framework that allows these services to be provided on a commercial basis.
	During his key note speech on 8 June, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport set out his vision for local media, which included reforming local cross-media ownership rules to relax the rules on local newspapers owning local radio stations or setting up local TV stations. He has asked Nicholas Shott-head of UK Investment Banking at Lazard-to examine the potential for commercially viable local television stations within the local media landscape across the UK. Mr Shott will report back on this exercise in the autumn and then we will be in an informed position to deliver a full local media action plan.
	These exciting proposals will also provide new opportunities for the creative industries to help deliver such content in new and innovative ways.

Television

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  how many times she has met ITV Wales managers since her appointment; and what matters were discussed at each such meeting;
	(2)  how many times she has met S4C representatives since her appointment; and what matters were discussed at each such meeting;
	(3)  how many times she has met representatives from the Wales Live consortium since her appointment; and what matters were discussed at each such meeting;
	(4)  how many times she has met BBC Wales managers since her appointment; and what matters were discussed at each such meeting.

Cheryl Gillan: I have had no formal meetings with these organisations since my appointment but intend to have meetings with Welsh broadcasters in the near future.

TRANSPORT

Bus Lanes

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the effect on the flow of other motor traffic of road narrowing schemes to create bus priority lanes; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has not received any such representations.
	The design and installation of bus lanes, including any monitoring of such schemes, are matters for local highway authorities.

Crossrail Line: Kent

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the extension of Crossrail from Abbey Wood into Kent.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport's current priority is to continue to progress the committed Crossrail scheme while maintaining its focus on affordability and value for money. The route from Abbey Wood to Gravesend and Ebbsfleet is safeguarded under the terms of the Safeguarding Direction of October 2009 and I expect this to continue. However, any extension would require a strong business case.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many vehicles used the Dartford Crossing in each of the last 24 months;
	(2)  how much revenue accrued from vehicles using the Dartford Crossing in each of the last 24 months.

Michael Penning: The Dartford Crossing encompasses both the tunnels and the bridge and charging occurs in both directions.
	The figures in the following table cover the Dartford Crossing as a whole. It shows how many vehicles used the Dartford Crossing in each of the last 24 months and also how much revenue was accrued in each month, including revenue for escorts of abnormal loads.
	
		
			   Month  Total traffic count (number)  Charging revenue (£)  Abnormal load escort revenue (£)  Total (£) 
			 1 May 2010 4,410,812 6,178,523.43 23,941.00 6,202,464.43 
			 2 April 2010 4,293,715 6,097,317.92 24,802.00 6,122,119.92 
			 3 March 2010 4,312,881 6,174,004.56 25,578.00 6,199,582.56 
			 4 February 2010 3,758,432 5,389,210.60 26,106.00 5,415,316.60 
			 5 January 2010 3,503,479 5,058,560.17 21,231.00 5,079,791.17 
			 6 December 2009 4,013,426 5,710,950.82 18,774.00 5,729,724.82 
			 7 November 2009 4,130,181 5,927,867.96 24,580.00 5,952,447.96 
			 8 October 2009 4,498,077 6,433,437.95 25,244.00 6,458,681.95 
			 9 September 2009 4,438,269 6,308,210.68 24,257.00 6,332,467.68 
			 10 August 2009 4,725,718 6,615,200.27 24,303.00 6,639,503.27 
			 11 July 2009 4,713,241 6,636,620.69 28,800.00 6,665,420.69 
			 12 June 2009 4,465,255 6,370,620.28 33,259.00 6,403,879.28 
			 13 May 2009 4,414,433 6,278,841.01 28,975.00 6,307,816.01 
			 14 April 2009 4,274,380 6,164,845.47 31,915.00 6,196,760.47 
			 15 March 2009 4,264,910 6,220,970.58 25,129.00 6,246,099.58 
			 16 February 2009 3,555,890 5,218,207.34 31,893.00 5,250,100.34 
			 17 January 2009 3,783,958 5,529,047.99 29,022.00 5,558,069.99 
			 18 December 2008 4,056,452 5,897,466.14 24,920.00 5,922,386.14 
			 19 November 2008 4,202,778 5,619,338.92 25,054.00 5,644,392.92 
			 20 October 2008 4,547,659 5,756,478.53 29,435.00 5,785,913.53 
			 21 September 2008 4,439,181 5,613,572.20 30,000.00 5,643,572.20 
			 22 August 2008 4,753,103 5,852,073.25 27,840.00 5,879,913.25 
			 23 July 2008 4,779,150 6,067,091.81 31,356.00 6,098,447.81 
			 24 June 2008 4,471,563 5,697,188.59 32,381.00 5,729,569.59

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have applied for a  (a) resident's and  (b) Dart Tags discount against the toll for the Dartford Crossing since the resident's discount scheme was introduced; and how many of those who have applied for the resident's discount were resident in Thurrock.

Michael Penning: Since the introduction of the Local Resident Scheme in November 2008, 22,702 people have successfully applied for a residents' discount for the Dartford Crossing; of these 11,506 were resident in Thurrock.
	In the same period, there were 30,385 successful applications for a DART-tag account.

Departmental NDPBs

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reductions in expenditure each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible will be expected to make in  (a) 2010 and  (b) each year from 2011 to 2014.

Philip Hammond: My Department's non-departmental public bodies have not been given specific budget reductions as part of my Department's overall reduction of £689 million for 2010-11. These savings are expected to be made in the central Department and its agencies.
	For 2011-12 onwards no budgets have been set as they will be subject to the forthcoming spending review.

Departmental NDPBs

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the functions of his Department's executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: The functions of my Department's Executive agencies will be considered, alongside all other departmental functions, in the context of the review of all Government spending now under way.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reductions are planned to be made in the funding provided by his Department to  (a) Middlesbrough Council and  (b) Redcar and Cleveland Council in 2010-11.

Norman Baker: The Government announced on 10 June plans for implementation of the £1.166 billion savings to be made from local Government grants in 2010-11, of which £309 million will be from transport grants.
	Further information regarding how these reductions relate to Middlesbrough council and Redcar and Cleveland council can be found in the Libraries of the House and on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localgovernmentfinance/

Departmental Public Expenditure

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on the economy of the reductions proposed in expenditure on transport projects.

Philip Hammond: As part of the planned spending review process, I will be reviewing all the Department for Transport's projects and programmes to ensure they represent value for money and are consistent with the Government's objectives, including the need to reduce the deficit, support growth and meet the 2020 carbon reduction targets.

Electric Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which official in his Department is responsible for the implementation of a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Norman Baker: Michael Hurwitz heads the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, a team composed of officials from the Departments for Transport, Business Innovation and Skills, and Energy and Climate Change, who are responsible for the UK's ultra-low emission vehicle policy, including this Coalition commitment. An organisation chart for the Office for Low Emission Vehicles can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/165252/OLEVorgchart.pdf

Local Government Finance: Wales

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes will be made in the grants provided by his Department to local authorities in Wales in 2010-11.

Philip Hammond: Transport is a devolved function, so no grants are made by the Department for Transport to Welsh authorities.

Public Transport: Expenditure

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid in public subsidy to the  (a) rail industry and  (b) bus industry (i) in total and (ii) per passenger journey in the latest period for which figures are available.

Philip Hammond: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) (i) Total public subsidy figures to the rail industry for 2008-09, the most recent available, can be found in a table in the Office of Rail Regulation's current National Rail Trends publication at:
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c6-misc-180310.pdf
	(Table 6.2a).
	(ii) Subsidy figures are not compiled per passenger journey, so these are unavailable.
	 (b) The latest figures available for the bus industry are for 2008-09 and are separated between London and the rest of England due to the different nature of the markets (fully regulated and largely deregulated, respectively). The Department for Transport published revised statistics on bus passenger journeys during 2008-09 on 17 June 2010 and is available on the DFT website:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/public/bus/
	Total public subsidy to the bus industry is made up of the Bus Service Operators Grant and locally tendered subsidised services. Bus operators are reimbursed by local authorities for carrying concessionary bus pass holders so that operators are left no better or worse off for participating in the concessionary travel scheme. This is not a subsidy to the industry so has not been included in these figures.
	(i) Total net public subsidy paid to the bus industry in 2008-09 by central and local government was £833 million in London, and £724 million in the rest of England.
	(ii) This equated to a net public subsidy of 39 pence per passenger journey in London, and 30 pence in the rest of England.

Railways: Construction

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Exceptional Hardship Scheme which will compensate residents for any effects of prospective High Speed Rail 2 routes will be extended to local business premises.

Philip Hammond: I cannot prejudge the outcome of the current consultation on the proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme, which ended on 17 June. We have received a number of responses relating to business premises. We will look carefully at the suggestions made by all respondents in deciding how to proceed.

Railways: Construction

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the decision to exclude from the High Speed Two hardship scheme those properties adjacent to tunnelled sections of the proposed route for the purpose of making such properties eligible for assistance from his Department.

Philip Hammond: I cannot prejudge the outcome of the current consultation on the proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS), and reiterate that no decision has yet been taken on what properties would be eligible under any Exceptional Hardship Scheme. Representations on this topic have been received as part of the current consultation. We will look carefully at the suggestions made by all respondents in deciding how to proceed.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there are in Dartford constituency; where each is located; and how many drivers have been prosecuted as a result of evidence obtained from each such camera over the last five years.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport holds only information about speed cameras operating under the National Safety Camera Programme, which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007. Separate information about cameras operating in Dartford is not held. The number of camera sites operating in Kent at the end of the National Safety Camera Programme was 129. Since then, the deployment of safety cameras has been the responsibility of individual local partnerships. The number of cameras currently in place and their location will therefore be a matter for Kent county council and the local road safety partnership.
	The number of drivers prosecuted as a result of enforcement by each speed camera in Kent is not held by the Department. However, details of fixed penalty notices issued and subsequently paid in Kent over the past five years are outlined in the following table which also includes penalties issued for red light offences:
	
		
			  Speed and red light fixed penalty notices paid in Kent over the last five years 
			   Number 
			 2002-03 30,994 
			 2003-04 54,929 
			 2004-05 60,959 
			 2005-06 50,285 
			 2006-07 61,206

Transport: North West

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grants his Department has allocated to  (a) Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and  (b) other local authorities in the North West for which funds have not yet been released.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has allocated a range of grants to Wigan metropolitan borough council and other local authorities in the north-west, for which payments are due to be made at various stages over the course of 2010-11.
	The Government have made clear that their most urgent priority is to tackle the UK's record deficit. To help achieve this, on 10 June the Department for Communities and Local Government announced £1.166 billion of savings from grants to local authorities. Aside from these grants, the Department is not withholding the release of funding allocated to north-west authorities in 2010-11.
	The following table sets out the timing of payments for the Department's transport grants.
	
		
			  Grant  Payment timing 
			 Integrated Transport Block Quarterly-next in July 
			 Capital de-trunking Quarterly-first mid May. This payment was being delayed in anticipation of the CLG announcement on 10 June regarding local authority budget reductions; it will now be paid at a reduced level 
			 Maintenance - Primary Route Network When claimed 
			 Emergency funding for Cumbria When claimed 
			 Exceptional maintenance When claimed 
			 Major Projects (LA) Quarterly in arrears 
			 Road safety (capital) Funding cancelled. See CLG announcement on 10 June regarding local authority budget reductions 
			 Green bus fund 2009 When claimed 
			 Green bus fund 2010 When claimed 
			 Station accessibility (access for all) When claimed 
			 Cycle Towns Quarterly in arrears-next in September 
			 Cycling-Finding new solutions Quarterly in arrears 
			 Urban congestion fund Further details to be announced in due course 
			 Smart ticketing Two payments 
			 Nexus (Tyne and Wear Metro) Monthly 
			 Pot Holes-budget 2010 funding Two payments 
			 Concessionary fares-top up Quarterly 
			 Kickstart-2009 Funding cancelled. See CLG announcement on 10 June regarding local authority budget reductions 
			 Cycle training When claimed 
			 Other bus grants When claimed 
			 RBSG-bus grant Monthly instalments 
			 School Travel Advisers Monthly instalments 
			 Revenue de-trunking Monthly instalments 
			 Road safety revenue grant Monthly instalments

Travel

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to support the promotion of  (a) cycling,  (b) walking and  (c) other non-car travel initiatives.

Norman Baker: The coalition agreement says that we will support sustainable travel initiatives, including the promotion of cycling and walking. In addition, we will explore the opportunities provided by alternatives to travel. Our approach will be considered in more detail as part of the spending review later this year.

Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement of 24 May 2010 and pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 69W, on public expenditure: Wales, if he will provide details of his Department's non-devolved public expenditure savings that will be incurred in Wales, including an estimate of the financial savings.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 17 June 2010
	My Department is making in-year expenditure savings of £683 million.
	Of this figure, Network Rail are finding savings of £100 million, and also deferring £17 million worth of lower priority schemes. Network Rail has not given any indication of what portion of this proposed reduction in expenditure will affect Wales.
	The savings from Transport for London will not affect Wales nor will those from local government funding or from the Highways Agency, which are devolved areas.
	The other element of the in-year saving is the £112 million savings from efficiencies in direct departmental spend. My Department's agencies, some of which are based in, or have regional offices in Wales, will be taking their share of these. No estimate has been made of the savings to be incurred in Wales.

JUSTICE

Burglary: Self-defence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to review the law on homeowners using force to protect their property from burglars.

Crispin Blunt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert) on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 735. We are reviewing the law and its interpretation carefully and will explore all options before bringing forward proposals. We must make sure that householders protecting their homes from intruders have the appropriate level of legal protection and a clear understanding of their rights.

Cemeteries

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the number of gravestones which have temporary wooden stakes for health and safety reasons.

Jonathan Djanogly: We have not made any such estimate. Last year, the Ministry of Justice conducted a sample survey of burial ground operators to assess how far they were aware of, and acting on, the Ministry's recent guidance on dealing with unstable memorials. The results indicate that memorials presenting a risk of causing serious injury are now more likely to be identified by suitable signs instead of being supported by stakes or laid down. We are keeping under review the need for any further action, in conjunction with burial professionals.

Cookham Wood Secure Training Centre

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children of each  (a) sex,  (b) race and  (c) age have been (i) remanded to and (ii) received into Medway Secure Training Centre in each year since it opened.

Crispin Blunt: The following tables show the number of custodial remand episodes and total custodial episodes (including remands) started in Medway Secure Training Centre in each year from 2001 to 2009 by sex, ethnicity and age. Complete data are not available for the period before 2001.
	An "episode" is a period a young person has spent in custody. In some cases, a young person starts more than one custodial episode during a single 12-month period, either for a new offence or because of a change in the legal basis for his or her detention, such as from remand to sentence.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.
	
		
			  Custodial episodes by sex, 2001-09 
			   Remand episodes  Total custodial episodes 
			   Female  Male  Total  Female  Male  Total 
			 2001 1 0 1 37 88 125 
			 2002 22 2 24 52 100 152 
			 2003 36 29 65 116 168 284 
			 2004 32 26 58 114 120 234 
			 2005 33 23 56 114 121 235 
			 2006 39 24 63 128 106 234 
			 2007 20 35 55 91 124 215 
			 2008 26 26 52 122 108 230 
			 2009 21 41 62 88 157 245 
		
	
	
		
			  Custodial episodes by ethnic group, 2001-09 
			   Remand  e pisodes 
			  Ethnicity  Asian  Black  Mixed  Not available  Other  White  Total 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 2002 1 1 4 0 0 18 24 
			 2003 0 16 5 6 0 38 65 
			 2004 2 15 5 2 0 34 58 
			 2005 0 8 7 4 2 35 56 
			 2006 3 9 11 4 1 35 63 
			 2007 0 18 3 1 0 33 55 
			 2008 1 9 7 8 1 26 52 
			 2009 4 10 5 3 0 40 62 
		
	
	
		
			   Total custodial episodes 
			  Ethnicity  Asian  Black  Mixed  Not Available  Other  White  Total 
			 2001 3 10 14 0 0 98 125 
			 2002 4 25 18 3 1 101 152 
			 2003 3 47 22 11 5 196 284 
			 2004 9 37 22 7 6 153 234 
			 2005 5 30 24 9 4 163 235 
			 2006 6 38 26 13 3 148 234 
			 2007 2 38 15 11 2 147 215 
			 2008 1 43 23 24 1 138 230 
			 2009 7 37 28 14 1 158 245 
		
	
	
		
			  Custodial episodes by  age , 2001-09 
			   Remand  e pisodes 
			  Age  12  13  14  15  16  17  Total 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 2002 0 2 4 9 9 0 24 
			 2003 1 8 22 20 13 1 65 
			 2004 1 5 15 18 19 0 58 
			 2005 1 3 20 15 16 1 56 
			 2006 0 1 20 13 29 0 63 
			 2007 1 3 23 12 16 0 55 
			 2008 1 5 14 15 17 0 52 
			 2009 1 5 22 17 17 0 62 
		
	
	
		
			  Custodial episodes by  age , 2001-09 
			   Total custodial  e pisodes 
			  Age  12  13  14  15  16  17  Total 
			 2001 5 17 60 32 11 0 125 
			 2002 4 21 58 46 23 0 152 
			 2003 4 23 103 94 57 3 284 
			 2004 2 16 80 65 71 0 235 
			 2005 1 13 81 67 71 2 234 
			 2006 1 4 83 60 74 12 235 
			 2007 3 7 79 46 68 12 234 
			 2008 1 16 71 69 64 9 215 
			 2009 1 14 66 97 58 9 245

Departmental Manpower

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) women and  (b) men were employed by his Department on the latest date for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Office of National Statistics' Statistical Bulletin on public sector employment, published on 16 June 2010, sets out the number of staff employed by central Government Departments.
	The headcount figures for the Ministry of Justice show that there were 41,060 women employed and 44,320 men employed as at 31 March 2010.
	The staff numbers provided add together civil servants from the following:
	Ministry of Justice HQ, NOMS Agency, HMCS, Tribunals, Office of the Public Guardian, Wales Office, Scotland Office, UK Supreme Court, Land Registry and The National Archives.
	 Note:
	The Office of National Statistics round to the nearest 10.

Judges: Northumberland

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of court starts in Northumberland of sharing a deputy justices' clerk with North Tyneside.

Jonathan Djanogly: The number of court starts will not be affected by, an as yet, unevaluated proposal to have one deputy justices clerk managing the legal advisers in both Northumberland and North Tyneside. As ever, the number of court sittings will be driven by factors such as work loads, fluctuations in the business and waiting times.
	The proposal regarding the deputy justices clerks is actually about management structures and the need to standardise the ratio of legal managers to legal advisers across the country generally. The proposal from the justices clerk is merely an initial response to the publication of a service-wide activity based cost model and has not formally been considered, or approved, at any level. I should clarify that it is unlikely to take effect for some time yet. However, when it does, it will not dictate how many sittings are listed in those courts.

Judges: Northumberland

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reason it is proposed to appoint two additional district judges in the Northumbria area; and what estimate he has made of the likely total annual cost of the additional appointments.

Jonathan Djanogly: Up until recently, the Area Director for Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria was working on a business case to support the introduction of two additional magistrates' district judges to the Northumbria Area. However, given the need for all government bodies to review how they conduct their operations in the light of the current economic climate, that business case has been put on hold.
	By way of background, although Northumbria already has two magistrates' district judges, that number is fewer than areas elsewhere in the country with similar workloads. The Area Director believes that additional district judges will help improve case management and increase throughput. Consequently she was considering putting forward a case to make Northumbria's numbers commensurate with those found nationally. Before any such request is submitted, formal consultation will be undertaken with the Northumbria Benches and other stakeholders, where the reasons for the business case will be set out. I can confirm that Bench Chairmen have been informed of the decision not to progress the case at this stage.
	As the matter is not being advanced at present, there will be no change to the overall cost of magistrates' business in Northumbria.

Legal Aid Scheme

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce delays in payments to solicitors' firms by the Legal Services Commission for legal services provided through  (a) the community legal service and  (b) the criminal defence service.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is still processing the majority of payments within its published target times.
	Both civil and criminal legal aid providers receive Standard Monthly Payments for Legal Help (civil) and for criminal work in the police station and the magistrates court. Standard Monthly Payments guarantee cash flow, enabling providers to manage their finances. These monthly payments continue to be made on time. The LSC also has a target to pay all bills within six weeks (with the exception of crime litigator fees for which an eight-week target applies) and will review any claim where a bill is not paid within this timescale.
	For Civil Licensed Work, the LSC acknowledge that payments are currently taking longer than in the equivalent period last year. This is due to a significant increase in numbers of claims in addition to tighter checks and controls that the LSC has put in place for the scrutiny of claims following the National Audit Office's qualification of the LSC's 2008-09 accounts. The LSC has made additional staff available to process payments with the aim of addressing the increase in volume.
	The LSC has also recently reminded providers about the supporting information that they need to submit to help it to process claims as quickly as possible and ensure that public money is being spent only on those who qualify for help.

Prison Sentences

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many men had been released after serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many  (a) women and  (b) men who served an indeterminate sentence for public protection remain under supervision.

Crispin Blunt: Up to 4 June 2010, 133 prisoners serving an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP) had been released, of which 124 prisoners were male and nine female. Of the total prisoners released, two male prisoners were released early for compassionate reasons. The remainder were released by the Parole Board once the offender had served the minimum custodial term (tariff).
	Of the total number of prisoners (male and female) released, 34 have been subsequently recalled to custody and six have been deported. This leaves 93 offenders who remain subject to supervision in the community as of 4 June, of which 88 are men and five are women.
	These figures do not include releases relating to those sentenced to an IPP that was later quashed or those prisoners who had died following release but prior to 4 June 2010.
	The figures were taken from the Public Protection Unit Database (PPUD) in the National Offender Management Service, and, as with any large scale recording system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either data entry or processing. The PPUD is a live database, updated on a regular basis.
	As a result, snapshots taken in consecutive days will contain differences reflecting updates.

Prison Sentences

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection; and how many of these are former servicemen.

Crispin Blunt: The number of people serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) or detention for public protection (DPP) on the 4 June 2010 was 6189. Of these, 93 are currently serving their sentence in the community under licence following their release from custody.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not hold centrally information on how many offenders serving IPPs are former servicemen.
	These figures do not include releases relating to those sentenced to an IPP/DPP which was later quashed or those prisoners who had died following release but prior to 4 June 2010. The figures were taken from the Public Protection Unit Database (PPUD) in the National Offender Management Service, and, as with any large scale recording system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either data entry or processing. The PPUD is a live database, updated on a regular basis. As a result, snapshots taken in consecutive days will contain differences reflecting updates.

Prisoners' Release: Disclosure of Information

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what his policy is on using the provisions of the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2009 to provide information to hon. Members in respect of  (a) the release from prison of certain high risk offenders and  (b) the presence of such offenders in the constituencies of hon. Members;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2009.

Crispin Blunt: The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2009, underpins the Critical Public Protection Case Notification Scheme, which allows Members who wish to be informed of the release of a dangerous offender into their constituency to sign a confidentiality agreement and receive notification of such releases. The scheme allows for Members to be reassured of the robust arrangements in place to manage those offenders on their release from custody and to make further inquiries.
	As I made clear in my answer of 17 June,  Official Report, column 567W, and in my letter to all MPs on 11 June 2010, I am continuing the scheme. The risk management plans for relevant offenders involve the close collaboration between the Police and Probation Trusts through the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Offender managers will supervise offenders to ensure that they comply with their licence conditions and, where they do not, they are liable to recall to custody.
	Since the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2009 was approved by Parliament, 16 notification letters have been sent out to 13 Members. As the vast majority of relevant offenders are released initially into Approved Premises, formerly known as probation and bail hostels, notifications will mostly be sent to Members with an Approved Premises in their constituencies.

Rape

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what recent research his Department has evaluated on the level of stigma associated with an accusation of  (a) rape,  (b) domestic violence,  (c) murder,  (d) child abuse and  (e) other sexual offences;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of false allegations of  (a) rape,  (b) other violent crimes and  (c) all other offences made in the last three years;

Crispin Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Warrington North (Helen Jones) on 17 June 2010,  Official Report, column 569W.
	The Director of Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice has been asked to compile all the available research and statistics relating to this issue into an independent report and publish this before summer recess.

Rape: Rights of Accused

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions his Department has had with Rape Crisis on the proposals to grant anonymity to defendants in rape cases.

Crispin Blunt: Ministers and officials in my Department and in the Home Office have not as yet held any discussions with Rape Crisis about the proposals.

Reparation by Offenders

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent assessment is of the cost effectiveness of restorative justice programmes and their effect on the recidivism rate.

Crispin Blunt: The term 'restorative justice' is widely used to describe a range of interventions, both formal and informal. It can refer to interventions where an offender takes steps to make good their offence in some way and/or to interventions that give victims the chance to explain the impact that their experience of being a victim has had on them, or to seek an apology, or answers to any questions they may have, from an offender. A range of restorative justice approaches are in use within the criminal justice system.
	The evidence base for restorative justice approaches is complex and to date, there has been no comprehensive cost benefit analysis of restorative justice approaches. I have asked officials to undertake this work.

Sexual Offences

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many of those convicted of domestic violence offences between 2003 and 2010 had a history of a consensual sexual relationship with the person against whom their offences were perpetrated;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010 to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East,  Official Report, column 727, on rape defendants (anonymity), in which completed cases a woman was murdered between 2003 and 2010 by someone well known to her and where there was a history of consensual sexual relationship.

Crispin Blunt: The Director of Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice is to compile all the available research and statistics relating to this issue into an independent report and publish this before summer recess.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy: Subsidies

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on implementation of the Johannesburg Summit agreement on phasing out energy subsidies which inhibit sustainable development; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: G20 countries committed at Pittsburgh in 2009 to rationalize and phase out over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption. Progress will be discussed at the Toronto summit later this month.

Human Tissue Analysis in UK Nuclear Facilities Inquiry

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the report of the Redfern Inquiry on examination of tissue taken from individuals who had worked in the nuclear industry in time to ensure that hon. Members are able to debate its findings before the summer adjournment.

Charles Hendry: There is currently no publication date for the report of the Redfern inquiry on examination of tissue taken from individuals who had worked in the nuclear industry. We do expect to make an announcement before summer recess.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the subsidy for the proposed £20 billion building programme for new nuclear plants.

Charles Hendry: The coalition agreement is clear that there will be no public subsidy for new nuclear power stations.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's budget is for the clean up of existing nuclear waste in 2010-11.

Charles Hendry: The total planned expenditure for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the body responsible for the clean up of the UK's historic civil public sector nuclear, for 2010-11 is £2.84 billion. The Department directly funds £1.69 billion and the remainder is generated by NDA's commercial operations.

Renewable Energy

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his plans are for the future of the Renewable Heat Incentive; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 367-368W.

Renewable Energy

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of electricity was generated from renewable sources of energy in each of the last 20 years; and what information his Department holds for benchmarking purposes on comparable figures for  (a) Germany,  (b) France,  (c) Italy,  (d) Spain,  (e) the Netherlands,  (f) Austria,  (g) Finland,  (h) Denmark and (i) Sweden.

Charles Hendry: The information requested is as follows:
	Table 1 shows the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources of energy between 1990 and 2009. Data for 2009 are provisional and exclude an estimate for non-bio degradable waste use.
	
		
			  Table 1 :  UK Generation from renewable sources, 1990-2009 
			   Total UK Generation (GWh)  UK Generation from Renewable sources (GWh)  Proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources (%) 
			 1990 319,739 5,812 1.8 
			 1991 322,875 5,320 1.6 
			 1992 321,043 6,398 2.0 
			 1993 323,102 5,717 1.8 
			 1994 324,978 6,956 2.1 
			 1995 334,047 6,871 2.1 
			 1996 350,868 5,685 1.6 
			 1997 350,666 6,945 2.0 
			 1998 362,702 8,648 2.4 
			 1999 368,151 9,616 2.6 
			 2000 377,069 9,914 2.6 
			 2001 384,778 9,549 2.5 
			 2002 387,246 11,127 2.9 
			 2003 398,209 10,600 2.7 
			 2004 393,929 14,147 3.6 
			 2005 398,303 16,940 4.3 
			 2006 397,292 18,116 4.6 
			 2007 397,044 19,646 4.9 
			 2008 389,649 21,597 5.5 
			 2009 371,754 24,680 6.6 
		
	
	Table 2 shows similar data obtained from Eurostat, for 1997 to 2007. However, this uses a different definition, showing renewable generation as a proportion of gross electricity consumption.
	
		
			  Table 2: Electricity generated from renewable sources as % of gross electricity consumption, for European countries, 1997-2007 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 EU(27 countries) 13.1 13.4 13.4 13.8 14.4 12.9 12.9 13.9 14 14.6 15.6 
			 EU(25 countries) 12.8 13.1 13.1 13.7 14.2 12.7 12.7 13.7 13.6 14.3 15.5 
			 EU(15 countries) 13.8 14 14 14.6 15.2 13.5 13.7 14.7 14.5 15.3 16.6 
			 Belgium 1 1.1 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.8 1.8 2.1 2.8 3.9 4.2 
			 Bulgaria 7 8.1 7.7 7.4 4.7 6 7.8 8.9 11.8 11.2 7.5 
			 Czech Republic 3.5 3.2 3.8 3.6 4 4.6 2.8 4 4.5 4.9 4.7 
			 Denmark 8.9 11.7 13.3 16.7 17.3 19.9 23.2 27.1 28.3 26 29 
			 Germany 4.3 4.8 5.5 6.5 6.5 8.1 8.2 9.5 10.5 12 15.1 
			 Estonia 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.7 1.1 1.4 1.5 
			 Ireland 3.8 5.5 5 4.9 4.2 5.4 4.3 5.1 6.8 8.5 9.3 
			 Greece 8.6 7.9 9.5 7.7 5.2 6.2 9.7 9.5 10 12.1 6.8 
			 Spain 19.7 18.6 12.8 15.7 20.7 13.8 21.7 18.5 15 17.7 20 
			 France 15.2 14.4 16.5 15.1 16.5 13.7 13 12.9 11.3 12.5 13.3 
			 Italy 16 15.6 16.9 16 16.8 14.3 13.7 15.9 14.1 14.5 13.7 
			 Cyprus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Latvia 46.7 68.2 45.5 47.7 46.1 39.3 35.4 47.1 48.4 37.7 36.4 
			 Lithuania 2.6 3.6 3.8 3.4 3 3.2 2.8 3.5 3.9 3.6 4.6 
			 Luxembourg 2 2.5 2.5 2.9 1.6 2.8 2.3 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.7 
			 Hungary 0.8 0.7 1.1 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.9 2.3 4.6 3.7 4.6 
			 Malta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Netherlands 3.5 3.8 3.4 3.9 4 3.6 4.7 5.7 7.5 7.9 7.6 
			 Austria 67.5 67.9 71.3 72.4 67.2 66.1 53.1 58.7 57.4 56.6 59.8 
			 Poland 1.8 2.1 1.9 1.7 2 2 1.6 2.1 2.9 2.9 3.5 
			 Portugal 38.3 36 20.5 29.4 34.2 20.8 36.4 24.4 16 29.4 30.1 
			 Romania 30.5 35 36.7 28.8 28.4 30.8 24.3 29.9 35.8 31.4 26.9 
			 Slovenia 26.9 29.2 31.6 31.7 30.5 25.4 22 29.1 24.2 24.4 22.1 
			 Slovakia 14.5 15.5 16.3 16.9 17.9 j 19.2 12.4 14.4 16.7 16.6 16.6 
			 Finland 25.3 27.4 26.3 28.5 25.7 23.7 21.8 28.3 26.9 24 26 
			 Sweden 49.1 52.4 50.6 55.4 54.1 46.9 39.9 46.1 54.3 48.2 52.1 
			 United Kingdom 1.9 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.9 2.8 3.7 4.3 4.6 5.1 
			 Croatia 38.8 38.3 45.1 40 42.7 33.9 29.4 41 36.2 33.4 23 
			 FYR Macedonia - - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Turkey 38.1 37.3 29.5 24.3 19.1 25.6 25.2 30.9 24.7 25.5 19.2 
			 Iceland 99.9 99.9 99.9 99.9 100 99.9 99.9 100 99.9 100  
			 Liechtenstein - - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Norway 95.3 96.2 100.7 112.2 96.2 107.3 92.1 89.7 108.4 98.4 106.1 
			 Switzerland - - - - - - - - - - -

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria the Government plans to put in place for eligibility for grants for feed-in tariffs.

Charles Hendry: The GB feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme allows combination of grant and FITs payments if the authority is satisfied that the making of FIT payments in respect of the installation would be in accordance with the law relating to state aid.
	The European Commission published their decision in relation to state aid and the GB FITs scheme on 14 June 2010. The decision-number N94/2010-is available from the EC website at:
	http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/register/ii/by_case_nr_n2010_0090.html#94
	We are considering the implications of this decision on the FITs scheme in the context of our overall approach to energy and climate change. We will make an announcement in due course.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on grandfathering of biomass feed-in tariffs.

Charles Hendry: The consultation on biomass grandfathering policy closed on 28 May, DECC officials are currently analysing the responses.
	Electricity generation from biomass (other than anaerobic digestion) is not eligible for feed-in tariffs. Biomass electricity generation at all scales is eligible for support through the renewables obligation.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituencies

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition of equal-sized constituencies he uses.

Mark Harper: The Government have announced that they will introduce legislation to provide for the creation of fewer and more equally-sized constituencies. Details of these provisions will be announced in due course and Parliament will have the opportunity to debate them.

HEALTH

Abortion: Young People

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged  (a) 18,  (b) 17,  (c) 16,  (d) 15,  (e) 14,  (f) 13 and  (g) 12 years old in each strategic health authority area who had had (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three,(iv) four, (v) five, (vi) six, (vii) seven, (viii) eight, (ix) nine and (x) 10 or more previous abortions had an abortion in 2009.

Anne Milton: The information we can provide is shown in the following table. The Department has withheld data where there are totals of less than 10 (between 0 and nine) cases as we believe the disclosure of this information could breach an individual's confidentiality. This is in accordance with the Office for National Statistics guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005).
	
		
			  Previous abortions by age under 19 and Strategic Health Authority of residence, 2009 
			  Strategic Health Authority  Number of previous abortions  Age under 18  18  Total under age 19 
			 East of England 0 1,445 752 2,197 
			  1+ 104 133 237 
			  Total 1,549 885 2,434 
			  
			 East Midlands 0 1,189 661 1,850 
			  1+ 60 91 151 
			  Total 1,249 752 2,001 
			  
			 London 0 2,460 1,401 3,861 
			  1+ 393 419 812 
			  Total 2,853 1,820 4,673 
			  
			 North East 0 864 401 1,265 
			  1+ 47 60 107 
			  Total 911 461 1,372 
			  
			 North West 0 2,527 1,341 3,868 
			  1+ 194 239 433 
			  Total 2,721 1,580 4,301 
			  
			 South Central 0 933 541 1,474 
			  1+ 73 96 169 
			  Total 1,006 637 1,643 
			  
			 South East 0 1,166 625 1,791 
			  1+ 109 110 219 
			  Total 1,275 735 2,010 
			  
			 South West 0 1,364 747 2,111 
			  1+ 92 110 202 
			  Total 1,456 857 2,313 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0 1,937 1,013 2,950 
			  1+ 185 204 389 
			  Total 2,122 1,217 3,339 
			  
			 West Midlands 0 1,661 899 2,560 
			  1+ 117 149 266 
			  Total 1,778 1,048 2,826 
			  
			 Wales 0 940 450 1,390 
			  1+ 56 79 135 
			  Total 996 529 1,525 
			  
			 England and Wales 0 16,486 8,831 25,317 
			  1+ 1,430 1,690 3,120 
			  Total 17,916 10,521 28,437 
			  Note: Ages and number of previous abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 (between 0 and nine) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previously published data.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adults were treated for mental health issues attributable to alcohol misuse  (a) nationally,  (b) in the East Midlands and  (c) in Leicester in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The information is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the figures include admissions where mental and behavioural disorder due to alcohol is a secondary diagnosis, as well as those where it is the primary diagnosis. A secondary diagnosis will not in all cases be a cause of admission.
	
		
			  Number of finished admissions of patients aged over 18 with a diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Leicester 967 1,348 1,619 1,552 1,506 
			 East Midlands 7,715 8,523 9,741 10,159 11,570 
			 England 106,255 120,139 123,907 131,146 144,141 
			  Notes: 1. Includes activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 2. Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. It should be noted that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 3. Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. 4. Secondary diagnosis As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 19 (13 from 2002-03 to 2007-08 and six prior to 2002-03) secondary diagnosis fields in HES that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care. 5. Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 6. Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 7. Assignment of Episodes to Years Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay.  Cause code: The ICD-10 code for mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol is F10.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adults have been treated by the NHS for high blood pressure attributable to alcohol misuse  (a) nationally,  (b) in the East Midlands and  (c) in Leicester in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The information is shown in the following table. The proportion of hypertension caused by alcohol is an estimate. It should be noted that the figures include admissions where hypertension is a secondary diagnosis, as well as those where it is the primary diagnosis. A secondary diagnosis will not in all cases be a cause of admission.
	
		
			  Number of finished admissions of patients aged over 18 with a diagnosis of hypertension attributable to alcohol 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Leicester 1,120 1,379 1,664 1,811 1,790 
			 East Midlands 17,778 19,847 22,250 25,750 29,288 
			 England 191,063 228,471 262,016 290,633 332,602 
			  Note s : 1. Includes activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.  Finished admission episodes 2. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. It should be noted that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Primary diagnosis 3. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.  Secondary diagnosis 4. As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 19 (13 from 2002-03 to 2007-08 and six prior to 2002-03) secondary diagnosis fields in HES that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.  Data quality 5. HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time 6. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Assignment of Episodes to Years 7. Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay.  Cause code: 8. The ICD-10 codes for hypertension are I10 to I15. From work carried out by the North West Public Health Observatory we are able to estimate what the proportion of hospital admissions are due to alcohol consumption, this is known as the alcohol attributable fraction (MF). Hypertensive diseases have an MF of 0.34 for males and 0.24 for females.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Autism: Children

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of mental health services for children with autism;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mental health services provision in improving the mental health for children with autism.

Paul Burstow: It is for local partners to agree how the commissioning process can best meet the complex needs of children with autism who have mental health problems. We are looking at what might need to be done to improve child and adolescent mental health services, including meeting the particular needs of this group.

Continuing Care

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria apply in deciding whether a primary care trust pays for continuing health care; what assessment his Department has made of levels of regional variation in provision of continuing health care; how many patients are receiving continuing health care in  (a) County Durham,  (b) North Yorkshire,  (c) Cumbria,  (d) Leeds and  (e) London; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Anyone assessed as having a certain level of care needs may receive national health service continuing health care. Eligibility is decided after an assessment has been made by a multidisciplinary team using the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-Funded Nursing Care.
	The Department is working closely with the strategic health authority (SHA) continuing health care leads to investigate the variation in provision of continuing health care between regions, and between individual primary care trusts (PCTs). The SHAs have a managerial responsibility to investigate and manage this variation.
	The number of people in receipt of continuing health care, for the period January to March 2010, is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Organisation  Number 
			 County Durham PCT 556 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 858 
			 Cumbria PCT 390 
			 Leeds PCT 845 
			 London SHA 7,072

Darent Valley Hospital

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated in the accident and emergency department at Darent Valley Hospital in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table:
	
		
			  Attendances at Type 1 Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (Darent Valley Hospital), 2005-06 to 2009-10 
			   First attendances  Follow-up attendances  Total attendances 
			 2005-06 64,544 4,090 68,634 
			 2006-07 61,102 3,353 64,455 
			 2007-08 39,328 3,367 42,695 
			 2008-09 41,649 3,123 44,772 
			 2009-10 46,063 3,424 49,487 
			  Notes:  1. The Department collects this data from NHS trusts rather than hospital sites.  2. Information is not collected on the number of patients treated at A&E departments. However, data on the number of attendances at A&E departments are available and published quarterly via the Department's QMAE dataset. This includes patients who attended A&E but who were not subsequently treated and counts each attendance by the same patient separately.  3. Definition of a Type 1 A&E department: A consultant-led 24-hour service with full resuscitation facilities and designated accommodation for the reception of accident and emergency patients.   Source:  Department of Health: The Quarterly Monitoring Accident and Emergency Data Set (QMAE)

Dementia: Drugs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations contributed to the national audit on the prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs referred to in his Department's response to Professor Sube Banerjee's report on the prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs to people with dementia of 12 November 2009.

Paul Burstow: The National Audit will be starting shortly, with the results anticipated to be available in October 2010.

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Simon Burns: We will bring forward detailed information about reviews in due course.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the pay band is of each official assigned to handling negotiations at EU level on behalf of the Government in relation to the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of Article 5 of the EU food supplements directive;
	(2)  what his objective is for negotiations at EU level on maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of Article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; and what steps Ministers in his Department plan to take to ensure that those objectives are achieved.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) represents the United Kingdom in negotiations at European Union level on the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in recommended daily doses of food supplements. The FSA has advised that the European Commission has indicated that discussions will continue at working group level later in 2010.
	A team of officials of varying pay bands are responsible for this issue. Whilst FSA officials at Grade 7 and above in seniority will normally represent the UK in EU level discussions, the FSA deploys staff resources flexibly, using to the best effect the available skills and expertise, to ensure that the UK is best positioned to deliver its objectives.
	The objective in the negotiations is to ensure that levels are set on the basis of science and safety in accordance with the requirements of the EU Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC.

Disability: Social Services

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will publish a code of practice for the assessment and management of support packages for social care of severely disabled children and adults;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that care assessments and support packages for severely disabled children and adults are readily portable from one authority to another.

Paul Burstow: The current Guidance on Eligibility Criteria for Adult Social Care, England 2010 "Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: A whole system approach to eligibility for social care", published in February 2010, states:
	"When a service user permanently moves from one council area to another (or has a clear intention to move to another council), the council whose area they move into should take account of the support that was previously received and the effect of any substantial changes on the service user when carrying out the assessment and making decisions about what level of support will be provided. If the new council decides to provide a significantly different support package, they should produce clear and written explanations for the service user."
	A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library.
	The Government have announced their intention to establish a commission on funding long-term care. The portability of adult social care across English local authorities could be an important issue that the commission needs to take into account when considering how to implement any future funding model for the social care system.
	Transferability of care packages across local authority boundaries would run counter to the way in which local government is organised, in terms of local discretion and their budget responsibilities. When children move from one local authority to another, their new local authority should not necessarily start their assessment afresh, but should base the local assessment and service provision on information about the effectiveness of their package of support in their previous authority.

General Practitioners: Equality

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that women and men general practitioners are equally represented on the proposed NHS GP Commissioning Board.

Simon Burns: We will bring forward proposals for the NHS Commissioning Board in due course. The constitution of the board will be consistent with all the requirements of employment and equalities legislation.

Mental Health Services

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to healthcare providers on the priority to be given to use of cognitive behavioural therapy and other talking therapies for people with severe mental illness.

Paul Burstow: We have set out, in Our Programme for Government, a commitment to ensure greater access to talking therapies to reduce long-term costs for the national health service. This is a clear public health priority for us and we are currently working to identify how we will take forward this commitment.
	Revised National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on schizophrenia was published in March 2009. This outlines the best way to treat and manage adults with schizophrenia in primary and secondary care. The guidance recommends that treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) should be offered to all people with schizophrenia.
	Psychological therapies can be a key element of the treatment of people with severe and enduring mental health conditions, particularly when these conditions are experienced alongside depression and anxiety disorders. In these cases, the delivery of CBT and other NICE-compliant therapies is the recommended treatment. Services for these clients is largely provided by psychology departments in specialist mental health trusts. The implementation of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services for people in community settings with mild to moderate conditions can reduce the number of referrals to specialist mental health trusts and enable them to focus on providing services to those with severe and enduring mental illness.
	General practitioners or consultant psychiatrists can prescribe any medicine or treatment which they consider to be necessary for treating NHS patients, including NICE-approved treatments, provided that the local primary care trust or NHS trust agree to supply it on the NHS. Clinicians are responsible for deciding on the most appropriate form of treatment for their patients, and in doing so they are expected to take NICE guidance fully into account. The Department does not become involved in making clinical decisions.

Mental Health Services: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require staff working in child and adolescent mental health services to receive basic training on autism.

Paul Burstow: Staff working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) should have the necessary values, competencies, skills, and ongoing training to enable them to recognise and respond to the identified needs of children, including those with autism. We are looking at what might need to be done to ensure CAMHS offer proper support to those with autism spectrum disorders.

NHS: Digital Technology

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the principles of digital inclusion are taken into account in the delivery of mainstream health services.

Simon Burns: No one should be excluded from mainstream health services because they do not have digital access. We are committed to enabling patients to have greater access to the information they need to play a more active part in decisions about their own care. Informed patients are more likely to have a good patient experience, to achieve a partnership with clinicians treating them and overall have a better outcome. We are looking at a range of ways of making that possible, which will include by digital means.

NHS: Pay

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an assessment of the level of transparency of the mechanisms by which NHS trusts publish details of the remuneration of non-executive directors.

Simon Burns: Levels of remuneration for non-executive directors have been determined centrally by the Government. On 10 March 2010, it was announced that there would be no increase to these rates for 2010-11.
	Current rates are as follows:
	
		
			  NHS trust chairs 
			   £ 
			 NHS trust band 1 23,366 
			 NHS trust band 2 20,896 
			 NHS trust band 3 18,437 
			 NHS trust non-executive directors 6,096 
		
	
	The Appointments Commission, an executive non-departmental public body manage appointments to NHS trusts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and publish levels of remuneration on their website.
	As a requirement of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice, levels of remuneration are also publicised in appointment press releases.

Surgical Dressings

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to  (a) general practitioners,  (b) primary care trusts and  (c) NHS trusts on the (i) re-use and (ii) disposal of cloth bandages.

Simon Burns: The Department has issued Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 "Safe Management of Healthcare Waste" for all involved in the management of health care waste, including general practitioners, primary care trusts and national health service trusts. The guidance covers types of waste produced directly from health care activities, including bandages, and focuses on the management and risk assessment of medicinal and infectious waste. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.
	All medical devices have to meet the requirements of the relevant Medical Device Regulations and, when used as intended, should be acceptably safe. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency guidance on using medical devices is to follow the instructions for use provided by the manufacturer which, for bandages, may be found on the labelling or the packaging. If medical devices are labelled as single-use only, they must not be re-used.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the Jobcentre Plus Access to Work programme.

Maria Miller: Access to Work provides financial help towards the extra costs faced by disabled people in work, where this goes beyond what would be reasonable for an employer to meet. Access to Work supported 32,120 disabled people during 2008-09. Official statistics for 2009-10 will be published on 27 July.
	The Government are reviewing current welfare to work programmes, including Access to Work, to ensure that the support is effective and value for money. We are committed to ensuring disabled people are given the right support they need to get a job and remain in employment.
	The Coalition Agreement announced plans to allow customers to confirm eligibility for Access to Work before applying for a job. We are drawing up plans for implementation and further details will be announced in due course.

Carer's Allowance

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been in receipt of carer's allowance in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since the allowance's inception.

Maria Miller: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Carer's allowance cases in payment since August 2003 
			  Date  Jarrow parliamentary constituency  South Tyneside local authority  North-east Government office region  Great Britain 
			 August 2003 790 1,400 24,640 400,090 
			 November 2003 810 1,430 24,840 406,150 
			 November 2004 840 1,480 25,630 431,580 
			 November 2005 850 1,520 25,810 443,990 
			 November 2006 900 1,600 26,470 458,820 
			 November 2007 900 1,620 26,980 472,300 
			 November 2008 920 1,710 28,270 496,030 
			 November 2009 970 1,800 29,800 526,480 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Invalid care allowance was renamed carer's allowance from April 2003. 3. The earliest data available are from August 2003. Prior to August 2003, figures are based on those with entitlement only. This means that caseload figures cannot be broken down by whether or not a case is in payment. As a result, carer's allowance data are restricted to August 2003 onwards.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Carer's Allowance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether he plans to amend the earnings limit which applies to carer's allowance;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of benefits available to carers; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The Government recognise that the UK's 6 million carers play an indispensable role in looking after friends or family members who need support. It also acknowledges the important role that both cash benefits and employment assistance play, especially in enabling many carers to combine care giving with paid employment.
	The earnings limit for Carer's Allowance was raised in April from £95 to £100 and is net of certain taxes and expenses, including the costs of paying for care.
	We have set out our commitment to simplify the benefit system in order to improve work incentives and encourage responsibility and fairness. We will consider carefully the needs of carers as we develop our thinking on welfare reform.

Carer's Allowance: Redcar

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Redcar constituency  (a) are in receipt of carer's allowance and  (b) were in receipt of carer's allowance in each of the last five years.

Maria Miller: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  People in receipt of Carer's Allowance in Redcar constituency November 2004-09 
			   Number 
			 November 2004 1,250 
			 August 2005 1,280 
			 November 2006 1,250 
			 November 2007 1,260 
			 November 2008 1,270 
			 November 2009 1,300

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department; and at what Civil Service pay grade in each such case.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 10 June,  Official Report, columns 33-34W.
	 (b) Press office covers all of the Department's responsibilities including Jobcentre Plus and the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service, for the national and regional media across the English regions, Scotland and Wales.
	The Department currently employs:
	(i) National Press Office: one Acting Head of News and two Chief Press Officers all at Grade 7, two Senior Information Officers and seven Information Officers.
	(ii) Regional Press Offices: one Head of Regional Media at Senior Information Officer pay grade, three Senior Information Officers and 14 Information Officers.

Departmental Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) civil servants and  (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The Department for Work and Pensions Permanent Secretary is the only civil servant who has entitlement to use one of the Government Car Service's pool of four DWP vehicles. All of these vehicles have a dedicated driver.
	 (b) DWP special advisers do not have entitlement to use the Government Car Service pool of cars.
	Within the UK, the DWP has only one departmental account for taxis, which covers London (within the M25-extending to London Airports). All DWP staff and special advisers are entitled to use this taxi account; however staff should always consider whether travelling by taxi is a necessity, having considered alternative travel methods, business needs, sustainability issues, increased public scrutiny of expenses and cost. Exceptional occasions where taxi travel is necessary may include:
	Where a taxi can be shared with other colleagues and the fare would be cheaper than public transport; and
	For journeys where there is no other suitable method of public transport.

Departmental Official Residences

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated to the use of Ministers in his Department.

Chris Grayling: No domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated for the use of Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions.

Departmental Pay

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 280-1W, on departmental manpower, what the salary range is of staff employed at each grade in the private office of each Minister in his Department.

Chris Grayling: The salary ranges are as follows:
	
		
			  Grade  £ 
			 SCS Pay Band 1 61,700-117,800 
			 Grade 7 47,550-58,070 
			 SEO 34,390-40,440 
			 HEO 28,250-33,530 
			 EO 23,940-28,130

Departmental Public Expenditure

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to analyse the distributional effect of the options for reductions in his Department's expenditure.

Chris Grayling: The Government set out in their document Spending Review Framework that they will
	"look closely at the effects of its decisions on different groups in society, especially the least well off, and on different regions."
	(2.4, page 7)
	Further information will be available at the spending review.

Departmental Telephone Services

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's telephone helplines are 0800 numbers which incur call charges when called from a mobile phone.

Chris Grayling: The Department has a total of 116 0800 voice telephone lines. Of these, 51 are claim lines which are free for customers to call from the major UK mobile network operators as a result of an agreement reached between the Department and the major operators earlier this year.
	The remaining 65 0800 voice telephone lines are in use for the National Benefit Fraud Hotline, Out of Hours services, Emergency Lines, Departmental survey, Jobcentre switchboards and Departmental pilot lines. In such cases, when a customer asks us, we offer to call them back. These 65 are being reviewed as part of the Department's number rationalisation programme which has, in the last year, seen the total volume of voice 0800 numbers reduce from 269 to 116.

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) documents and  (b) other information for which (i) his Department and (ii) its associated public bodies are responsible are published or provided in the UK in languages other than English; for what reason each such publication is required to be made available in a language or languages other than English; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the translation work so incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as it would incur disproportionate cost.

Electronic Government

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the contribution of directgov to increasing the level of digital inclusion.

Chris Grayling: Digital inclusion is a key driver in the work Directgov undertakes with partners in the voluntary, public and private sector. Directgov's role as part of this agenda is to assist Departments in putting services online in an easy to use, accessible format, and ensuring that there is the widest possible access to those services.
	Directgov is actively promoting digital inclusion initiatives aimed at encouraging the public online. Over the last year Directgov has promoted the following events:
	Get Online Day
	Silver Surfers Day
	Pass IT On
	Race Online
	Online Basics
	We believe that Directgov has made substantial progress, and we are committed to working with the Cabinet Office to increase digital inclusion.

Employment and Support Allowance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the number of claimants of employment and support allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The most recent available information is that as at November 2009, there were 425,770 Employment and Support Allowance claimants in Great Britain and abroad.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	2. Employment and Support Allowance replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008.
	3. Figures are published on:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/esa.asp
	 Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Employment and Support Allowance: South West

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been assessed for employment and support allowance at Flowers Hill, Brislington, Bristol; and how many such people had their applications for that allowance rejected following work capability assessments.

Chris Grayling: Data on the outcomes of the work capability assessments for employment and support allowance claims in Flowers Hill, Brislington are not available.
	For the Bristol city council area, which covers Brislington, the number of complete assessments for new employment and support allowance claims received between October 2008 and August 2009, is 2,900. Of these claims, 1,800 were found fit for work.
	The Department regularly publishes official statistics on the work capability assessment-the statistics were last updated in April 2010 and published in the report "Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment: Official Statistics: April 2010", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The information is also available on the internet at the following address:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_arc.asp

Employment Schemes: Mentally Ill

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for helping people with mental health problems to find employment and cease being in receipt of benefits.

Maria Miller: In accordance with the Coalition Agreement, the Government have committed to introducing the Work Programme. The Work Programme will replace most existing employment programmes and will deliver comprehensive support to help longer-term benefit claimants into work, including people with mental health conditions.
	The Department also provides a number of specialist employment programmes to help people with higher support needs to find and stay in supported and unsupported employment. Support is tailored to the needs of an individual customer, and includes a focus on the needs of people with mental health conditions as necessary.
	From October 2010 we will begin reassessing customers receiving the old style incapacity benefits using the Work Capability Assessment. This will help people to access the right kind of support to help them back to work. It is a big undertaking and we are working on plans to make the change happen as smoothly as possible for all customers, including those with mental health conditions.

Funeral Payments

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many applications have been made for funeral payments in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how much has been paid in funeral payments in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 2000.

Steve Webb: Information regarding funeral payments for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of funeral payment claims received in Great Britain by country and financial year 
			   England  Wales  Scotland 
			 2000-01 51,130 4,380 8,970 
			 2001-02 51,850 4,360 9,440 
			 2002-03 55,260 4,890 10,190 
			 2003-04 57,600 5,070 10,330 
			 2004-05 54,620 4,760 9,920 
			 2005-06 53,940 4,400 9,330 
			 2006-07 54,180 4,070 8,820 
			 2007-08 52,430 3,850 8,730 
			 2008-09 55,840 4,090 8,640 
			 2009-10 54,960 4,200 8,440 
		
	
	
		
			  Funeral payment gross expenditure in Great Britain by country and financial year 
			  £ million 
			   England  Wales  Scotland 
			 2000-01 28.0 2.1 5.6 
			 2001-02 30.0 2.3 6.0 
			 2002-03 32.4 2.6 6.6 
			 2003-04 37.0 2.9 7.2 
			 2004-05 36.9 2.3 7.1 
			 2005-06 36.6 1.9 6.8 
			 2006-07 37.1 2.1 6.8 
			 2007-08 37.0 2.2 6.8 
			 2008-09 39.5 2.2 6.7 
			 2009-10 38.4 2.2 6.5 
			  Notes:  1. Gross expenditure includes awards made after reconsideration or appeal.  2. The number of claims received has been rounded to the nearest 10 and gross expenditure to the nearest £0.1 million.   Source:  DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Funeral Payments

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average size of funeral payments made to applicants in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) Northern Ireland has been since 2005.

Steve Webb: Information regarding funeral payments for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Funeral payment average award in Great Britain by country and financial year 
			  £ 
			   England  Wales  Scotland 
			 2005-06 1,097 883 1,066 
			 2006-07 1,136 881 1,106 
			 2007-08 1,183 961 1,130 
			 2008-09 1,217 974 1,154 
			 2009-10 1,230 1,003 1,164 
			  Notes:  1. Figures include awards made after reconsideration or appeal.  2. The average award has been rounded to the nearest £1.   Source:  DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Future Jobs Fund

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of jobs which had been created under the Future Jobs Fund up to 14 June 2010.

Chris Grayling: The latest official statistics Future Jobs Fund jobs cover the period up to January 2010. The figures show that 8,660 people had started Future Jobs Fund jobs. Further statistics will be released later this summer.

Future Jobs Fund

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people in Warrington are in employment financed through the Future Jobs Fund.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.

Jobcentre Plus: Digital Technology

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a recent assessment of the extent to which the principles of digital inclusion are taken into account by Jobcentre Plus in the delivery of its services.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked the chief executive to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking (i) what steps his Department is taking to ensure and (ii) whether he has made a recent assessment of the extent to which, the principles of digital inclusion are taken into account in the provision of services by Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus recognises the importance of digital inclusion for our customers, especially those who are most disadvantaged and face the greatest barriers to work.
	Many Jobcentre Plus services are available through digital channels, including searching for job vacancies, the Benefit Adviser Service on Directgov and the option of making a claim online for contributions-based Jobseeker's Allowance. We aim to help customers develop the skills and confidence to use these services together with the growing number of on-line services provided elsewhere in the private, voluntary and public sectors.
	We are looking at a range of ways to address digital exclusion. These include the appointment of digital inclusion champions in Jobcentres and better signposting to help customers access support from our partners, such as the advice and provision available through UK Online in England and equivalents in Wales and Scotland. We see this work as important in tackling barriers to internet access which, with more employers using online recruitment to fill vacancies, is a real barrier to customers finding work.
	Tackling digital exclusion is essential to addressing wider social mobility and ensuring that all our customers can benefit from the improvements that digital technologies can provide in helping them move from welfare to work.

Oil: Safety

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the number of safety incidents there have been on oil rigs in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Table 1 gives the accident statistics reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation 1995 (RIDDOR) for the UK offshore industry as a whole. It will therefore include not only drilling rigs but also installations ranging from large oil and gas production platforms, floating production installations, drilling rigs and unattended gas platforms.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Injuries  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008- 0 9  Total 
			 Fatalities 3 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 13 
			 Major injuries 53 47 64 48 48 50 39 44 30 423 
			 Over three day injuries 177 187 120 103 111 125 164 148 140 1,275 
			 Total injuries 233 237 184 154 159 177 205 192 170 1,711 
			 Dangerous occurrences 764 661 635 530 558 491 485 509 477 5,110 
		
	
	RIDDOR also requires the reporting of certain dangerous occurrences, and Table 2 gives the statistics for those categories of offshore dangerous occurrences which are almost inevitably drilling rig related.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   2000- 0 1  2001- 0 2  2002- 0 3  2003- 0 4  2004- 0 5  2005- 0 6  2006- 0 7  2007- 0 8  2008- 0 9  Total 
			 Unplanned close BOP (Kicks) 30 32 45 36 36 32 36 28 27 302 
			 Shallow Gas 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 
			 Unplanned Flow 5 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 1 12 
			 Total - - - - - - - - - 619 
			  Note: Figures do not distinguish between minor and major incidents.

Oil: Safety

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department are responsible for monitoring the safety of oil rigs in UK waters.

Maria Miller: The Offshore Division of the Health and Safety Executive has 124 specialist inspectors responsible for health and safety regulation of the UK's offshore oil and gas industry. (Figures as at 1 April 2010)

Poverty: Children

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will make a statement under section 9 of the Child Poverty Act 2009 on how the Government will meet the targets in that Act to end child poverty.

Maria Miller: The Child Poverty Act gained Royal Assent on 25 March this year. Section 9(1) requires Government within 12 months of that date to lay before Parliament the first UK child poverty strategy. Section 9(2) stipulates that the strategy set out the measures that we propose to take to comply with the duty under section 2 to meet four statutory targets and ensure as far as possible that children in the United Kingdom do not experience socio-economic disadvantage. We are setting work in hand to publish a robust strategy within that timescale.

Poverty: Children

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government plan to adhere to the targets for abolishing child poverty contained in the Child Poverty Act 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: Page 19 of "The Coalition: our programme for government" makes clear our intention to maintain the goal of ending child poverty in the UK by 2020. The terms of reference for the inquiry which we have asked Frank Field MP to lead includes looking at the measurement of poverty, particularly non-financial aspects. We will want to take account of that inquiry and the work of the Cabinet Committee for Social Justice in preparing the UK strategy for eradicating child poverty that the Child Poverty Act requires us to publish by March next year.

Social Security Benefits

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people of working age  (a) do not have a full-time job and  (b) are in receipt of benefits.

Chris Grayling: The number of people of working age in the United Kingdom who did not have a full-time job in the three months ending March 2010 is estimated at 17.488 million, including people who are in part-time employment, unemployed or economically inactive.
	 Notes:
	1. Working age population is defined as men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59.
	2. Estimates refer to the three-month period ending March 2010, and are not seasonally adjusted.
	3. Figure rounded to the nearest thousand.
	 Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	The available information on the number of working age people receiving social security benefits is in the tables.
	
		
			  Working age benefits client group in Great Britain and abroad: November 2009 
			   Number 
			 All working age benefit claimants 5,857,130 
			  Notes: 1. Figure rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Working age benefits include: Jobseeker's allowance; incapacity benefit; employment and support allowance; income support; disability living allowance (DLA); attendance allowance (AA); carers allowance (CA); severe disability allowance; and widow's benefit. 3. AA, CA, and DLA claimants include those with entitlement, but where payment is currently suspended (for example, because of an extended stay in hospital or an overlapping benefit). 4. Working age is defined as men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59.  Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of working age housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients in Great Britain as at November 2009 
			   Number 
			 Housing benefit 3,036,550 
			 Council tax benefit 3,003,780 
			  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Working age is defined as claimants in receipt of the following benefits, as recorded on the local authority's computer system: Income support, jobseeker's allowance (income-based) or employment and support allowance (income-based). Claimants not receiving one of these benefits are counted as working age if they are aged under 60. 4. There is an overlap in the figures as most people will receive both housing benefit and council tax benefit. 5. Council tax benefit figures exclude any single adult rebate cases. 6. Figures published at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent under the Independent Living Fund in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 to date.

Maria Miller: holding answer 15 June 2010
	The Independent Living Fund had expenditure of £340 million for 2009-10 and £58.8 million for the first two months of 2010-11. Figures are for Great Britain.

Transocean

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with Transocean on the safety record of its oil rigs.

Maria Miller: Inspectors from Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Offshore Division hold annual health and safety reviews with every offshore installation duty holder. The last annual review for Transocean was on 23 March 2009, and topics raised by HSE included industry performance, HSE priorities, Transocean specific performance, reported incidents, HSE investigation results, and Transocean specific intervention plans for the coming year. HSE plans to hold the next Annual Review with the company in the autumn 2010.
	The most recent meeting with Transocean senior management was 17 June 2010, to discuss the response to a recent extensive human factors intervention undertaken by HSE.
	The most recent offshore inspection was on the drilling rig Galaxy II from 9-11 June 2010. The inspection focussed specifically on blow out preventer (BOP) control systems and well control.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the independent report on the operation of the work capability assessment made under the Welfare Reform Act 2007 will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: We are in the process of commissioning an independent review of the operation of the work capability assessment, and expect it to report before the end of the year.

Work Capability Assessment

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on implementation of the recommendations of the March 2009 review of work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: We are currently considering the recommendations of the Department-led review of the work capability assessment.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality: Local Government

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the effects on sex encounter establishments of the gender equality duty placed on local authorities.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 17 June 2010
	No such assessment has been made.
	It is for each local authority to identify how to meet its obligations under the Gender Equality Duty and to report on the actions the authority has taken towards the achievement of those objectives.

Rape: Rights of Accused

Caroline Flint: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on extending anonymity to defendants in rape cases; and when those discussions took place.

Lynne Featherstone: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Justice, on a range of issues, and will continue to do so to develop the policies and priorities included in the coalition programme for Government.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take account of the published anti-Semitic views of any individuals seeking to enter the UK when deciding whether to grant entry to such individuals; what representations she has received on that matter since her appointment; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: We take seriously any form of incitement to religious or racial hatred as this threatens social cohesion and could provoke inter-community violence or tension. We will seek to prevent propagators of hate crime from entering the country.

Anti-Semitism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's seminar on race hate, anti-Semitism and the internet.

James Brokenshire: While an assessment of the ministerial seminar has not been undertaken, we will analyse previous efforts at tackling hate crime on the internet in considering future policy in this area.

Drugs: Misuse

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made for benchmarking purposes of the levels of problem drug use in  (a) the UK and  (b) other EU member states.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The Home Office commissioned a three year series (covering the years 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07) of national and regional estimates of the prevalence of Problem Drug Use (defined as use of opiates and/or crack cocaine). The most recent of those studies (2006-07) found there were an estimated 328,767 problem drug users in England (with a range of 322,128 to 340,196), corresponding to an estimated rate of 9.76 per 1,000 population.
	 Source:
	'National and regional estimates of the prevalence of opiate use and/or crack cocaine use 2006-07: a summary of key findings' Table 1, Research Report 9. This report is available on the Home Office RDS website:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/horr09.pdf
	Estimates for 2008-09 are currently being produced by the National Treatment Agency, in conjunction with the Home Office and the Department of Health.
	 (b) The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) publishes, in its online Statistical Bulletin, estimates of the number and rates of Problem Drug Users in European countries. The most recent rates published by EMCDDA in 2009 range from 2.7 to 9.9 per 1,000 population aged 15 to 64, the highest rate being that for the UK, although the different ways the estimates are calculated in different countries mean they cannot be directly compared. Further information can be found in the EMCDDA Statistical Bulletin at:
	http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/stats09/pdutab1a

Drugs: Misuse

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the level of problem drug use in the UK relative to that level in other EU countries.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office commissioned a three year series (covering the years 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07) of national and regional estimates of the prevalence of Problem Drug Use (defined as use of opiates and/or crack
	cocaine) in England. The most recent of those studies (2006-07) found there were an estimated 328,767 problem drug users in England (with a range of 322,128-340,196), corresponding to an estimated rate of 9.76 per thousand population.
	 Source:
	'National and regional estimates of the prevalence of opiate use and/or crack cocaine use 2006-07: a summary of key findings' Table 1, Research Report 9. This report is available on the Home Office RDS website:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/horr09.pdf
	Estimates for 2008-09 for England are currently being produced by the National Treatment Agency, in conjunction with the Home Office and the Department of Health.
	Each of the other UK administrations (Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) produce their own estimates.
	Estimates for problem drug use across the EU are published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), in its online Statistical Bulletin. The most recent rates published by EMCDDA in 2009 range from 2.7 to 9.9 per thousand population aged 15-64, the highest rate being that for the UK, although the different ways the estimates are calculated in different countries mean they cannot be directly compared.
	Further information can be found in the EMCDDA Statistical Bulletin at:
	http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/stats09/pdutab1a

Harlow: Crime Statistics

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of cases of  (a) violent crime and  (b) burglary in each ward of Harlow constituency since 1997.

James Brokenshire: The available information is for offences recorded by the police and is given in the tables. Data have been provided for violence against the person and burglary in a dwelling offences.
	Statistics for the individual wards of Harlow are not available centrally and data for Community Safety Partnership (CSP) of Harlow have been provided. Data at this level are available from 1999-2000 to 2008-09.
	The information has been provided in two tables to make clear that figures before and after the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in 2002-03 are not directly comparable.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in the Harlow Community Safety Partnership area 1999-2000 to 2001-02( 1) 
			  Number of offences, recorded crime 
			  Offence  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Violence against the person 737 879 1,028 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 301 248 369 
			 (1) The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences recorded by the police in the Harlow Community Safety Partnership area 2002-03 to 2008-09( 1) 
			  Number of offences, recorded crime 
			  Offence  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Violence against the person 1,576 2,149 2,246 2,187 1,990 1,949 1,800 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 481 540 300 240 298 327 468 
			 (1) The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Identity Cards

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Stoke-on-Trent have purchased a voluntary identity card.

Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service is not able to provide information relating to particular constituencies or regions for identity card applications. However, as of 11 June 2010 there have been fewer than 15,000 identity cards issued in the United Kingdom.

Identity Cards

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the cost of the identity cards scheme.

Damian Green: Between 2003 and March 2006, the Home Office spent a total of £41 million developing the policy, legislation and business case for the introduction of identity cards.
	Responsibility for identity cards was transferred to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) on its establishment in April 2006. Between then and March 2010, IPS spent a total of £251 million on projects to establish identity cards, second biometric passports and other related programmes.

Identity Cards

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her contribution to the debate on second reading of the Identity Documents Bill of 9 June 2010,  Official Report, column 348, what assistance her Department is giving to staff in Durham who have been released early as a result of the Government's policy to end the voluntary identity cards scheme.

Damian Green: holding answer 17 June 2010
	The restructuring of IPS resulted in 60 temporary staff being released three months earlier than expected.
	The people affected generally commenced their temporary employment with IPS between January and March 2010.
	All those affected have received five weeks paid notice; employment references, the offer of time off for job interviews; help/support of line managers, PCS trade union representatives and use of the IPS Employee Assistance Programme.

Immigration: Legacy Programme

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has in respect of the Legacy Programme for the backlog of immigration and asylum cases introduced by the previous Government; how many cases under the programme  (a) have been dealt with,  (b) have resulted in the grant of leave to remain and  (c) remain to be dealt with; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 17 June 2010
	 The chief executive of the UK Border Agency, Lin Homer last updated the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) regarding the progress made in resolving the legacy cases in her letter of February 2010. She informed the committee that the Case Resolution Directorate had concluded 235,000 cases up to the end of December 2009. She will provide a further progress update on the conclusion of these cases in her next correspondence to the HASC.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Aviation: Trade Competitiveness

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in  (a) the Scottish Executive,  (b) the Welsh Assembly Government and  (c) the Northern Ireland Executive on the effect of the Government's fiscal policies on the competitiveness of businesses in the aviation sector.

Mark Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any discussions with Ministers in the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government or the Northern Ireland Executive on this subject, as this is a matter for the Department for Transport. However, he is keeping abreast of issues in this and other industrial sectors.

Aviation: Trade Competitiveness

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with representatives of the aviation industry on the effect of the Government's fiscal policies on  (a) their levels of business and  (b) their competitiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not had any discussions with representatives of the aviation industry on this subject, as this is a matter for the Department for Transport. However, he is keeping abreast of issues in this and other industrial sectors.

Aviation: Trade Competitiveness

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the  (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and  (b) Secretary of State for Transport on the effect of the Government's fiscal policies on the competitiveness of the aviation industry, with particular reference to freight carriers; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not had any meetings with the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Secretary of State for Transport on this subject, as this is a matter for the Department for Transport. However, he is keeping abreast of issues in this and other industrial sectors.

Business: Government Assistance

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which of his Department's programmes to assist industry are under review.

Mark Prisk: In common with other Government Departments, this Department, in conjunction with the Treasury, has undertaken a review of all significant expenditure approvals since 1 January 2010, which included several Industry Support projects. The full list of these projects is as follows:
	Outokompu
	Sheffield Forgemasters
	Offshore wind grants
	Growth Capital Fund
	ECF University Spin Outs
	General Motors
	Ford
	Nissan
	Post Office Ltd
	Narec Offshore Wind Blade Test Site
	Narec Offshore Wind Turbine Test Sites
	Offshore Wind Demonstration & Deployment
	x
	Support for Mitsubishi and partners to develop an offshore wind turbine
	Green Bus Competition II
	Carbon Trust SME Loan Scheme
	Bristol & Bath Science Park
	London Business Link
	International Space Innovation Centre.
	The results of these reviews and those of non-Business Support projects were announced to the House by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 June.

Business: Regulation

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future regulation of business and investment finance.

Mark Prisk: In order to avoid a repeat of the financial crisis, we committed in the coalition agreement to reform the regulatory system. The Chancellor has outlined Government proposals to abolish the tripartite regime. The Financial Services Authority will cease to exist in its current form.
	We will create a new prudential regulator, which will operate as a subsidiary of the Bank of England. It will carry out the prudential regulation of financial firms, including banks, investment banks, building societies and insurance companies.
	We will also establish a powerful new Consumer Protection and Markets Authority, responsible for ensuring the good conduct of business in the UK's retail and wholesale financial services, in order to preserve our reputation for transparency and efficiency as well as our position as one of the world's leading global financial centres.
	A single agency will be created to take on the work of tackling serious economic crime that is currently dispersed across a number of Government Departments and agencies.
	Before we set up these new bodies in their permanent form, we will conduct a full and comprehensive consultation process and will publish a detailed policy document for public consultation before the summer recess.
	During the period of transition to the new regime, the Government will also be guided by the following four principles:
	minimising uncertainty and transitional costs for firms;
	maintaining high quality, focused regulation during the transition;
	balancing swift implementation with proper scrutiny and consultation; and
	providing as much clarity and certainty as possible for FSA, bank and other staff affected during transition.
	The process will be handled carefully; we will consult widely and get it right.

Business: Regulation

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 232W on business: regulations, which regulations he has identified as relevant.

Mark Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has the responsibility to operate the one-in-one-out rule across the regulatory areas for which it is responsible, including employment law.
	This is consistent with the Coalition's Programme for Government commitment to reviewing employment and workplace laws, for employers and employees, to ensure they maximise flexibility for both parties while protecting fairness and providing the competitive environment required for enterprise to thrive.

Business: Regulation

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to allow the public to challenge primary legislation as part of his proposals to allow the public to challenge regulations in force.

Mark Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 June  Official Report, column 233w. As part of developing innovative and practical ways to facilitate public challenge of the worst regulations, we are also considering the scope of this work. I will make a statement to the House with more detail in due course.

Companies House: Nantgarw

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  if he will discuss with  (a) the hon. Member for Pontypridd and  (b) Companies House employees based at Nantgarw the proposed closure of Companies House's Nantgarw office; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has discussed with the Chief Executive of Companies House the proposed closure of Companies House's Nantgarw office.

Edward Davey: This is an operational matter for the chief executive of Companies House. I am aware that staff at Companies House are being kept fully informed on this issue.
	I understand the hon. Member for Pontypridd met the chief executive to discuss the proposed closure on 17 June 2010.

Credit Cards: Regulation

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department has issued on each change made to regulations and controls on the issue of credit cards in the last three years.

Edward Davey: I understand that, although BIS has not published any new guidance on consumer credit rules which would impact on credit cards over the last three years, the Office of Fair Trading published updated guidance on unfair relationships in May 2008, on post-contractual information requirements in July 2008 and on irresponsible lending in March this year. The guidance covers provisions introduced by the 2006 Consumer Credit Act. BIS is currently consulting on draft guidance on new provisions implementing the Consumer Credit Directive which were made in March this year and come into force next February.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-frontline staff in his Department and its agencies.

Edward Davey: Plans for reductions in numbers of non-frontline staff at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are not sufficiently developed at this stage to enable us to estimate the cost.
	I have approached the Chief Executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 3 June 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 26 May 2010, UIN 482 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House is a Trading Fund and Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Companies House has not budgeted for any redundancy/severance costs, however, as a Trading Fund any costs would be met by fees from our customers and would represent no cost to the public purse.
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 1 June 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 26 May to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking about estimates of the annual cost of redundancy payments for staff employed by the Department and its Agencies.
	The cost to the Agency of any redundancy or other exit payments this year will be disclosed in its Annual Report and Accounts of 2010/11. As matters stand, however, we do not envisage having to make such payments during the current year.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 2 June 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 26 May 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is a Trading Fund and Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The IPO has not budgeted for any redundancy/severance costs however as a Trading Fund any costs would be met by fees from users and would represent no cost to the public purse.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 3 June 2010:
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-frontline staff in his Department and its agencies.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills set out its plan for 2010/11 in its Corporate Plan. This included a planned reduction in non-frontline staff working in corporate services functions during 2010-11 of 12.6 (FTE). With the recent announcements of plans to cut £61/4 billion of wasteful spending across the public sector The Insolvency Service is reviewing its Corporate plan for 2010-11 which may lead to further changes in planned numbers of non-frontline staff.
	A large proportion (73%) of the Insolvency Service's functions are funded by fee income and the impact of any reductions will therefore only apply to the 27% funded from the public purse.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 21 June 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 26 May (UIN 482), to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, concerning the cost of proposed reductions in non-frontline staff in the Department and its agencies.
	The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 1 April 2010. As a new agency, we are currently looking at the implications of the recent announcements and the impact on the future shape of the organisation.
	The cost to the agency of any reduction in numbers of non-frontline staff this financial year will be disclosed in the accounts for 2010/11.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department at each Civil Service pay grade.

Edward Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the list of special adviser appointments published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 32-34W.
	BIS currently has 30 Press Officers employed as civil servants at these pay grades:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Senior Civil Service (SCS) 1 
			 Grade 6 1 
			 Grade 7 3 
			 Senior Executive Officers (SEO)/Senior Information Officer (SIO) 9 
			 Higher Executive Officers (HEO)/Information Officers (IO) 14 
			 Agency staff 2 
		
	
	This excludes one Press Officer working in BIS but employed by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). In addition there are three Grade 7 chief press officers on maternity leave.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons the Minister of State for Universities has appointed a special adviser.

David Willetts: To add a political dimension to the advice I receive.

EU Grants and Loans

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which public bodies will provide the secretariat for EU Convergence Regional Programmes when regional development agencies are wound up.

Mark Prisk: The Government indicated in the coalition agreement that RDAs would be replaced by local enterprise partnerships comprising business and local authorities. Discussions are still under way on the future delivery of the EU programmes in the English regions.

EU Grants and Loans: South West

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the delivery of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Convergence Programme of the ending of regional development agencies.

Mark Prisk: The Government have indicated that the delivery of economic development in all the regions of England will change as it considers a more appropriate delivery of economic development is by partnerships between local authorities and business.
	The Government will work with the programme partners to ensure that changes to management arrangements have no detrimental effect on the benefits that the Convergence programme will bring to the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

EU Grants and Loans: South West

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what factors he took into account in deciding to  (a) end the South West Regional Development Agency and  (b) change the secretariat for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly EU Convergence Programme.

Mark Prisk: The information is as follows:
	 (a) In "The Coalition: our programme for government" we made clear that we intended to replace regional development agencies, including South West RDA, with local enterprise partnerships. This is because it is not clear that the current RDAs represent the best structure to promote economic development. In particular, some regions do not generally reflect economic areas, while RDAs are not locally accountable and have too wide a range of responsibilities.
	 (b) No decision has yet been made to change the secretariat for the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Convergence programme.

Export Control Organisation

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms are in place to ensure that UK companies do not sell arms to countries where human rights abuses have been identified by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: An export licence is required to export arms and other military equipment from the United Kingdom. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria taking account of all prevailing circumstances at the time of the application. A licence will not be issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria or other relevant announced commitments. In particular Criterion Two concerns the 'respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination', and states that the Government will not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.
	More information about the Criteria, including a link to the full text, is available on the export control pages on the Business Link website at:
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/exportcontrol
	under 'Assessment of Export Licence Applications-Criteria and Policy.'

Export Control Organisation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has estimated the effects on  (a) UK businesses and  (b) the volume of UK exports arising from the Export Control Organisation not processing all standard individual export licences within its 20 working days' target.

Mark Prisk: The Government's published target is to process 70% of standard individual export licences in 20 days. In 2009, this target was exceeded with an outturn of 73%. Some export licences take longer to process because they involve the export of sensitive goods to sensitive destinations, which may require particularly close scrutiny or consultation with other Governments. No estimate has been made of the implications for business of the fact that some export licences cannot be processed within 20 days.

Export Control Organisation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that applicants for a standard individual export licence receive  (a) prompt notification of the receipt of their application and  (b) an estimated deadline for deciding on the application; what mechanism is used to ensure applications are processed safely and efficiently; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: All applications for standard export licences are submitted via the Government's fully electronic web based processing system, known as SPIRE. SPIRE replaced the previous system of paper licences and provides a complete end-to-end e-business service. The system connects all parties involved in export licensing and is hosted on the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) ensuring that all communications over the system are secure. Applicants are notified of receipt of their application immediately after submission through an automatic acknowledgement sent to them over SPIRE.
	The Government publish licence processing target times which, for standard individual export licences, is to process 70% of these within 20 working days. Applicants are advised that this target applies as soon as full documentation has been provided in support of an application and that it does not include time taken to go back to them for further information. Furthermore, the Government's performance against these targets for each destination country is published in the annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls.

Exports: Saudi Arabia

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to support British businesses which export goods to Saudi Arabia.

Mark Prisk: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) supports companies exporting to Saudi Arabia through trade and investment teams based in Saudi Arabia and the UK. In addition to a 25-strong team based in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, UKTI also employs a business specialist in the UK focused on identifying supply chain opportunities in Saudi Arabia arising from the Saudi Government's Fiscal Stimulus packages.
	UKTI provides a broad range of support for British companies wishing to do business in Saudi Arabia-from conferences and trade missions to support for trade fairs and exhibitions. In December 2009, the then Minister for Trade, Lord Davies, led a high-level mission of over 40 UK companies to Jeddah and Riyadh. In February this year, UKTI organised "Partner Middle East", a three-day road show that exposed over 450 companies in London, the West Midlands and Manchester to business opportunities in Saudi Arabia (and elsewhere in the Middle East). UKTI is rolling out a programme of follow-up activities over the course of 2010-11.
	UKTI funds and provides secretariat support for the Saudi-British Joint Business Council. The council meets twice a year to identify new business opportunities and also focuses on ways to tackle barriers to trade and to improve the environment for business. The Business Council has had a particular focus on the energy sector, as well as health care, education and skills and construction/transport, bringing together companies from both the UK and Saudi Arabia to explore the opportunities for new business partnerships in these key areas. To build new business in the financial services sector, UKTI, working closely with the Business Council and private sector partners, has overseen the creation of a UK-Saudi Arabia Financial Services Task Force, which is focused on a number of areas including public-private partnerships, investment banking law and regulation.

Google: Data Protection

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Government plans to investigate Google's data-gathering practices in relation to the recording of information from Wi-Fi networks.

Edward Vaizey: Under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) rather than Government, has responsibility for investigating potential data protection breaches of this nature. The ICO has secured a commitment from Google to destroy the erroneously collected data and are currently examining what other action would be appropriate.

Higher Education and Student Finance Independent Review

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects the Browne Review of higher education funding and student finance to report its findings.

David Willetts: The terms of reference for the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance state that it will report by the autumn.

Higher Education and Student Finance Independent Review

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects the report on Lord Browne's review of higher education finance to be published.

David Willetts: The terms of reference for the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance state that it will report by the autumn.

Higher Education: Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in Hartlepool constituency commenced a higher education course in each year since 1990.

David Willetts: The numbers of entrants from Hartlepool constituency to UK higher education institutions are shown in the table. Figures are taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record and are provided for the academic years 1995-96 to 2008-09.
	HESA have published UK higher education statistics since the 1994-95 academic year. In 1994-95 student postcode information, on which constituency data are based, was not collected, so information at constituency level is only available from 1995-96. Postcode information has been collected in each year thereafter and, therefore, entrant numbers can be provided at constituency level. Comparable data for earlier years are not available.
	Figures for the 2009-10 academic year will be available from HESA in January 2011.
	
		
			  Entrants( 1)  from Hartlepool constituency( 2)  UK higher education institutions( 3) : Academic years 1995-96 to 2008-09 
			  Academic year  Entrants 
			 1995-96 690 
			 1996-97 605 
			 1997-98 675 
			 1998-99 760 
			 1999-2000 755 
			 2000-01 905 
			 2001-02 950 
			 2002-03 1,120 
			 2003-04 1,100 
			 2004-05 1,100 
			 2005-06 1,120 
			 2006-07 1,185 
			 2007-08 980 
			 2008-09 1,390 
			 (1) Covers all-aged undergraduate and postgraduate entrants to full-time and part-time courses. (2) The table does not include entrants where the constituency of the student cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. (3) Excludes the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series. Note: Figures are on a HESA snapshot basis as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Iron and Steel

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to support the steel manufacturing sector.

Mark Prisk: The Department will work closely with the steel industry to minimise unnecessary burdens by involving the sector in discussions on regulatory, policy and other issues that impact on them such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, energy costs and supply, climate change and environmental protection. Our aim is to avoid unintended consequences and harness the sector's many creative ideas for lighter touch approaches.
	The steel industry has opportunities to participate in collaborative R&D projects funded by the Technology Strategy Board and the EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel. Financial support for the steel industry needs to meet the requirements in the EC State Aid rules which permit support for research and development, environmental protection and training within specified limits.
	In respect of the mothballed Teesside Cast Products site in my hon. Friend's constituency, we hope a new partner can be found for this plant, however decisions on any offer to purchase the Teesside plant are a commercial matter for Corus.

National Union of Students

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers and officials in his Department have (i) met, (ii) spoken on the telephone and (iii) corresponded with representatives of the National Union of Students since their appointment.

David Willetts: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Aaron Porter on 1 June, when they were both visiting the Student Loans Company in Glasgow.
	I spoke with the former NUS President Wes Streeting last on 24 May, and I met with the new NUS President Aaron Porter on 21 June, for what I hope will be the first of many such meetings.
	In addition, there are a number of regular contacts between BIS officials and the NUS as part of normal business.

Nissan: Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister of 9 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 327-28, how much his Department has spent in reviewing its proposed loan to Nissan.

Mark Prisk: The grant for business investment to Nissan was one of many projects reviewed, and therefore it is not possible to identify the costs which relate solely to the Nissan case.

Northwest Regional Development Agency

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people are employed in the Warrington office of the North West Regional Development Agency.

Mark Prisk: The total number of staff employed at the Warrington office of the Northwest Regional Development Agency is 409.

Northwest Regional Development Agency

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the North West Development Agency in relation to job creation and retention and economic development in  (a) the North West region and  (b) Liverpool.

Mark Prisk: An Independent Performance Assessment conducted by the National Audit Office in 2006-07 assessed the North West Development Agency as performing strongly. The NAO, on behalf of my Department, is currently undertaking an Independent Supplementary Review of regional development agencies and is due to report shortly.

Northwest Regional Development Agency: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which projects in  (a) Stockport Metropolitan Borough area and  (b) Tameside Metropolitan Borough area the North West Regional Development Agency is considering allocating funding in the financial year 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is not currently considering any new projects for investment in the Stockport and Tameside metropolitan borough areas where spending would occur in the current (2010/11) financial year.

Northwest Regional Development Agency: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which projects in the Liverpool City region the North West Development Agency has allocated funding in each of the last five years; and what such allocations are planned for 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: The Department allocates budgets to regional development agencies. The agencies determine which projects to support, subject to the terms of the accountability and financial framework and their delegated financial authorities. RDAs' investments have been guided by the regional economic strategy and their corporate plans. The Department does not hold details of individual projects supported by the RDAs within their delegated financial authorities.
	No final decisions have been made on how projects currently delivered by NWDA will be affected by the £270 million savings we are seeking from RDA's budgets. We will be writing to RDAs about the allocation shortly. We will then work with the RDA network to minimise the impact on priority programmes. Stakeholders and delivery partners involved in affected programmes and projects will be kept fully informed as specific decisions are made.

Oil

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings he has had with representatives of  (a) Shell,  (b) BP and  (c) other oil companies since taking up his post.

Vincent Cable: None.

One North East: Teesside

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  which projects in the Teesside area were allocated funding from One North East in 2010-11;
	(2)  to which projects in the Teesside local authority area One North East is considering allocating funding in 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: No final decisions have been made on how projects currently delivered by One North East will be affected by the £270 million savings we are seeking from RDAs' budgets. We will be writing to RDAs about the allocation shortly. We will then work with the RDA network to minimise the impact on priority programmes. Stakeholders and delivery partners involved in affected programmes and projects will be kept fully informed as specific decisions are made.

Overseas Students

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many places on university courses are held by overseas students.

David Willetts: In 2008/09, there were 2,396,055 postgraduate and undergraduate students enrolled on full-time and part-time courses at UK higher education institutions, including the Open University. Of these students 117,660 (5%) were other European Union (EU) domiciled and 251,310 (10%) were non-EU overseas domiciled.
	This is the latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be published by HESA in January 2011.

Oxford and Cambridge Universities

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times the Minister of State for Universities has  (a) met,  (b) spoken on the telephone and  (c) corresponded with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of (i) Oxford and (ii) Cambridge.

David Willetts: I have received correspondence from the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, but have not yet met or spoken on the telephone to either Vice-Chancellor since my appointment.

Regional Development Agencies

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what activity  (a) each regional development agency and  (b) the National Secretariat for Regional Development Agencies undertook prior to the general election to (i) lobby and (ii) communicate with Parliamentary candidates who were not previously hon. Members.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 15 June 2010
	In the 12 months up to the May 2010 general election purdah period, Regional Development Agencies responded to prospective parliamentary candidates' requests for information and meetings on RDA activity and role within the region where they were made.
	As my hon. Friend for Burton will be aware, Advantage West Midlands did approach a number of prospective Parliamentary candidates before the 2010 General Election to ascertain their view of regional economic development, functions carried out by regional development agencies and their thoughts on the future implementation of economic development and regeneration. This was an information gathering exercise designed to help AWM gauge local opinion as part of AWM's normal stakeholder relations process. At no time were these meetings used, or intended to be used, for lobbying on behalf of AWM.

Regional Development Agencies

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what timetable he has set for the conclusion of the review of the future of regional development agencies.

Mark Prisk: We will be providing further details about the replacement of regional development agencies with local enterprise partnerships shortly.

EDUCATION

Children: Social Services

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local authorities have received funding under the Aiming High for Children scheme; and what plans he has for that scheme after March 2011.

Sarah Teather: All local authorities in England received funding from The Aiming High for Disabled Children programme. Future plans for Government's funding for support of disabled children and their families will be finalised as part of the spending review which will report in the autumn.
	This Government announced in May, as part of £6.2 billion savings from central Government, a commitment to invest in respite breaks for carers of severely disabled children from 2011-12, using recycled funding from the Government's contributions to the Children's Trust Fund.

Children: Social Services

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children have received assistance under the Aiming High for Children scheme.

Sarah Teather: The Aiming High for Disabled Children programme has provided funding to improve services for disabled children and their families in all local authorities in England. Since funding is provided to local areas, we do not keep central records of the number of children that have received assistance from the programme.
	For the short breaks/respite care element of the programme, we can estimate from the data we use to support local authorities' delivery of the programme that in the 21 pathfinder authorities more than 18,000 children have received a short break since 2007-08. Data on non-pathfinders will be available in the summer.

Children: Social Services

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment has been made of the outcomes of the Aiming High for Children scheme.

Sarah Teather: There are a number of formal evaluations to assess the outcomes of the various strands of the Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme: evaluation of the short breaks element will be published in May 2011; the evaluation of the Individual Budget Pilots will be published in June 2011; and the Disabled Children's access to Childcare (DCATCH) is expected to be published in the summer of 2011.
	In addition, parents of disabled children have been surveyed about their satisfaction with services for their children as part of a National Indicator.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to set out the schemes and programmes of his Department for which funding will be reduced or withdrawn.

Michael Gove: I set out the breakdown of my Department's planned savings for 2010-11 in a letter to the right hon. Member for Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls) on 7 June 2010. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Libraries.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education from which of his Department's budgets he plans to make savings in 2010-11 totalling £670 million.

Michael Gove: holding answer 7 June 2010
	I refer the right hon. Member to my letter of 7 June 2010, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries.

TREASURY

Child Tax Credit

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effect on net individual incomes of qualifying families in (i) each region of England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland of a reduction in the present qualifying threshold for the family element of child tax credit of (A) £10,000, (B) £20,000 and (C) £30,000.

Justine Greening: No such research has been commissioned or evaluated separately.
	This was the arrangement under previous administrations and has not changed.

Credit Unions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on encouraging growth in the  (a) number of and  (b) number of members of credit unions.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 17 June 2010
	 As set out in the coalition document, the Government will bring forward detailed proposals to foster diversity, promote mutuals and create a more competitive banking industry.

Credit Unions

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on  (a) de-regulation and  (b) expansion of credit union services; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: As set out in the coalition agreement, the Government will bring forward detailed proposals to foster diversity, promote mutuals and create a more competitive banking industry.

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Justine Greening: The Coalition Agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews it will be undertaking. The Department will bring forward detailed information about these reviews in due course.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Chester

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Equitable Life policyholders are resident in city of Chester constituency.

Mark Hoban: The Treasury does not hold the details of the number of Equitable Life policyholders resident in city of Chester constituency.
	There has been no analysis to date of the distribution across the UK of those who have suffered loss.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 26 May 2010,  Official Report, columns 1-2WS, on Equitable Life, what the functions of the independent commission to determine the designs of the payment scheme will be; for how long he expects the commission to operate; how many members of the commission there will be; how they will be recruited; and at what level they will be remunerated.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 17 June 2010
	The Government have announced that they will establish an independent commission to determine the design of the scheme.
	Further details on the commission will be announced in due course.

Northwest Regional Development Agency

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 26 May 2010,  Official Report, columns 2-3WS, on savings (2010-11), whether property owned by the North West Regional Development Agency will be included in the proposed £170 million reduction in costs of Government property.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
	The £170 million funding is an estimate of the amount which property sales will contribute to the Government's £6 billion savings target. The eight regional development agencies outside London will be making a contribution to Government's overall savings target of £270 million. No final decisions have been made on which of the RDAs projects will be affected.

Public Expenditure

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there will be a Barnett consequential as a result of reductions in expenditure in the National Affordable Housing Programme in addition to the consequential that was announced on 24 May 2010.

Danny Alexander: Reductions in expenditure in the National Affordable Housing Programme were announced as part of the £6.2 billion cuts announced on 24 May. The Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Assembly Government of the £6.2 billion cuts, including these, were announced on 24 May.

Public Sector: Redundancy Pay

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers he has to limit the level of high-value severance packages paid to public sector employees.

Danny Alexander: Severance packages are generally agreed by the relevant public sector employer, within parameters that have been set out for that employer with the responsible Minister's agreement and which have previously been approved by the Treasury. However, Departments are required to seek prior Treasury approval before they can make or approve any novel or contentious payment that falls outside such parameters, including any with a value in excess of the maximum that is contractually due. Details on the requirements for such specific Treasury approval are set out in 'Managing Public Money' Annex 4.13.

Taxation: Overseas Companies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to ensure that multi-national companies registered in the UK report on their annual taxation paid in each country;
	(2)  if he will bring forward proposals for the introduction of country-by-country taxation reporting by companies registered in the UK;
	(3)  what his policy is on the reporting of taxation paid in overseas countries by companies registered in the UK.

David Gauke: The OECD's Task Force on Tax and Development is currently conducting a detailed examination of the issue of country-by-country reporting. The Government look forward to seeing the outcome of this work.

Working Tax Credit: Carers

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend the system of working tax credits for carers.

Justine Greening: There are no current plans to amend the system of working tax credit for carers but the Government keeps all aspects of the tax credits system under review as part of the Budget.

CABINET OFFICE

Business: Closures

Simon Reevell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many retail shops have closed in Dewsbury constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many retail shops have closed in Dewsbury constituency in each of the last five years.
	Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	Information on the number of enterprise deaths by parliamentary constituency is only available from 2005 onwards. The table below contains the latest statistics available.
	
		
			  Count of retail enterprise deaths in Dewsbury from 2005-08 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Dewsbury 40 35 45 35

Business: Closures

Simon Reevell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate has been made of the number of small businesses which have closed in  (a) Dewsbury constituency and  (b) Kirklees local authority area in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of small businesses which have closed in (a) Dewsbury constituency and (b) Kirklees local authority area in each year since 1997.
	Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	Information on the number of enterprise deaths by parliamentary constituency is only available from 2005 onwards. The table below contains the latest statistics available on small (less than 50 employment) enterprise deaths in Dewsbury Parliamentary Constituency from 2005 to 2008 and Kirklees local authority area from 2002 to 2008.
	
		
			  The count of enterprise deaths with less than 50 employment from 2002-08 
			   Dewsbury  Kirklees 
			 2002 (1)- 1,005 
			 2003 (1)- 1,235 
			 2004 (1)- 1,365 
			 2005 250 1,415 
			 2006 230 1,325 
			 2007 275 1,410 
			 2008 260 1,325 
			 (1) Not Available.

Communities First Fund

David Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding will be available from the Communities First Fund; when it will be made available; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The 'Communities First' fund is currently being developed by the Cabinet Office, and the total amount of funding available as well as other details will be developed as part of the Spending Review.

Electoral Register

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the size of the population  (a) entitled and  (b) registered to vote in each parliamentary constituency at the May 2010 general election.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate has been made of the size of the population (a) entitled and (b) registered to vote in each parliamentary constituency at the May 2010 general election (2892).
	ONS publishes the number of people registered to vote in parliamentary elections but does not hold data on the population entitled or eligible to vote. The ONS population estimates are of the resident population and will include some people who are not eligible to vote.
	The table shows the number of people registered to vote in parliamentary elections for each parliamentary constituency in the UK, as at 1st December 2009. These are the latest figures available. A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Government Departments: Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to reduce the cost to the public purse of maintaining Government websites; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 15 June 2010
	The Central Office of Information is collating information on the costs, quality and usage of Department-run websites and my right hon. Friend intends to publish these finding before the summer recess. Once this information has been published he will set out how he intends to reduce the overall cost to the taxpayer.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Conduct

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes have been made to the Code of Conduct for special advisers since 7 May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister published the revised Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers on 10 June, and placed copies in the Libraries of the House. The key changes to the revised Code are: a new requirement for Departments to publish quarterly information about gifts and hospitality received by special advisers; a requirement for applications from all special advisers wishing to take up jobs within two years of leaving the civil service to be considered by the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments regardless of seniority; no severance to be paid to special advisers who resign from the civil service on being announced as a candidate or prospective candidate for election to Parliament; and additional text about the restrictions on special advisers which reflects the provisions of section 8(5) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Pay

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the lowest salary is of a special adviser.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's written statement of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS.

Senior Civil Servants: Pay

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials in each  (a) Department,  (b) non-departmental public body and  (c) agency with salaries greater than £150,000 declined to have details of their salaries published by his Department.

Francis Maude: On 1 June we published details of 172 public servants working in central Government Departments or agencies paid at a full-time annual rate of £150,000 or more. As has been set out on the Cabinet Office website, 10 individuals withheld their consent to disclosure, citing the Data Protection Act. Of these, nine work in central Government Departments and one in an agency. We have not provided a breakdown by Department at this stage, as to do so might risk the identification of the individuals involved. The details published on 1 June did not include individuals paid by non-departmental public bodies. We intend to extend coverage to those in due course.

Unemployment

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of the working age population in  (a) Wales and  (b) the United Kingdom were unemployed in each year since 1980.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of the working age population in (a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom were unemployed in each year since 1980. (3612)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Table 1 shows the number and proportion of the working age population who are unemployed and resident in the UK and Wales. This definition differs from the normal preferred measures of unemployment, which are based on the number of unemployed aged 16+ and the proportion of economically active people who are unemployed. The preferred unemployment measures have been provided in Table 2 for comparison.
	Estimates on the number of people unemployed in Wales are not available for periods prior to March-May 1992.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number and proportion of people of working age who are unemployed and resident in the United Kingdom and Wales 
			  Seasonally adjusted 
			   United Kingdom  Wales 
			   Thousand  %( 1)  Thousand  %( 1) 
			 February to April 1980 1,579 4.8 - - 
			 February to April 1981 2,453 7.4 - - 
			 February to April 1982 2,789 8.3 - - 
			 February to April 1983 2,985 8.9 - - 
			 February to April 1984 3,208 9.5 - - 
			 February to April 1985 3,122 9.1 - - 
			 February to April 1986 3,107 9.1 - - 
			 February to April 1987 3,050 8.9 - - 
			 February to April 1988 2,531 7.3 - - 
			 February to April 1989 2,090 6.0 - - 
			 February to April 1990 1,968 5.7 - - 
			 February to April 1991 2,340 6.7 - - 
			 March to May 1992(2) 2,763 7.9 118 6.9 
			 February to April 1993 2,955 8.5 131 7.7 
			 February to April 1994 2,740 7.8 122 7.2 
			 February to April 1995 2,469 7.0 115 6.8 
			 February to April 1996 2,328 6.6 114 6.7 
			 February to April 1997 2,027 5.7 109 6.4 
			 February to April 1998 1,777 5.0 97 5.7 
			 February to April 1999 1,755 4.9 93 5.4 
			 February to April 2000 1,638 4.6 85 4.9 
			 February to April 2001 1,442 4.0 77 4.5 
			 February to April 2002 1,504 4.1 75 4.3 
			 February to April 2003 1,498 4.1 65 3.7 
			 February to April 2004 1,420 3.9 67 3.8 
			 February to April 2005 1,398 3.8 61 3.4 
			 February to April 2006 1,600 4.3 68 3.8 
			 February to April 2007 1,661 4.4 80 4.5 
			 February to April 2008 1,631 4.3 75 4.2 
			 February to April 2009 2,248 5.9 108 6.0 
			 February to April 2010(3) *2,437 6.4 **123 6.9 
			 - = Data not available.  (1) Percentage of working age population.  (2) March to May has been used for 1992 because these are the earliest data available for Wales.  (3) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below.  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220  KeyCoefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness *0 = CV<5  Estimates are considered precise **  5 = CV <10   Estimates are considered reasonably precise ***10 = CV <20 Estimates are considered acceptable ****  CV <20Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes  Source:  Labour Force Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of people unemployed and unemployment rate for people aged 16+ resident in the United Kingdom and Wales 
			  Seasonally adjusted 
			   United Kingdom  Wales 
			   Thousand  %( 1)  Thousand  %( 1) 
			 February to April 1980 1,603 6.0 - - 
			 February to April 1981 2,476 9.1 - - 
			 February to April 1982 2,813 10.5 - - 
			 February to April 1983 3,008 11.3 - - 
			 February to April 1984 3,263 11.9 - - 
			 February to April 1985 3,169 11.4 - - 
			 February to April 1986 3,151 11.3 - - 
			 February to April 1987 3,090 11.0 - - 
			 February to April 1988 2,569 9.0 - - 
			 February to April 1989 2,140 7.4 - - 
			 February to April 1990 2,004 6.9 - - 
			 February to April 1991 2,378 8.2 - - 
			 March to May 1992(2) 2,795 9.8 119 9.1 
			 February to April 1993 2,986 10.6 132 10.4 
			 February to April 1994 2,768 9.8 123 9.6 
			 February to April 1995 2,489 8.8 116 9.0 
			 February to April 1996 2,350 8.3 114 8.8 
			 February to April 1997 2,052 7.2 109 8.3 
			 February to April 1998 1,799 6.3 98 7.6 
			 February to April 1999 1,773 6.2 94 7.2 
			 February to April 2000 1,654 5.7 85 6.5 
			 February to April 2001 1,459 5.0 78 6.0 
			 February to April 2002 1,522 5.2 76 5.8 
			 February to April 2003 1,517 5.1 65 4.7 
			 February to April 2004 1,437 4.8 68 4.9 
			 February to April 2005 1,417 4.7 61 4.4 
			 February to April 2006 1,627 5.3 69 4.9 
			 February to April 2007 1,687 5.5 81 5.7 
			 February to April 2008 1,655 5.3 76 5.3 
			 February to April 2009 2,280 7.3 110 7.7 
			 February to April 2010(3) *2,472 7.9 **123 8.5 
			 - = Data not available. (1) Proportion of economically active.  (2) March to May has been used for 1992 because these are the earliest data available for Wales.  (3) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below.  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220  KeyCoefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness *0 = CV<5  Estimates are considered precise **  5 = CV <10   Estimates are considered reasonably precise ***10 = CV <20 Estimates are considered acceptable ****  CV <20Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes  Source:  Labour Force Survey.

Unemployment: Young People

Simon Reevell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the  (a) nominal and  (b) percentage change in youth unemployment in Dewsbury constituency was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) nominal and (b) percentage change in youth unemployment in Dewsbury constituency was in each of the last five years. (2480)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of unemployment for the requested age band and geography are not available.
	As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the number of persons aged 18 to 24 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance resident in the Dewsbury constituency for April in each year since 2005 along with the actual and percentage changes.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of persons aged 18 to 24 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance resident in Dewsbury constituency 
			Change on year 
			   Level  Level  Percentage 
			 April 2005 310 - - 
			 April 2006 435 125 39 
			 April 2007 480 45 10 
			 April 2008 490 10 3 
			 April 2009 920 430 88 
			 April 2010 880 -40 -4 
			  Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System